Interesting article about the Daimler Chrysler merger.

[70charginglizard]

The term "merger," can be deceiving. It is true that a merger may take place, but it is also true that there must be a controlling corporate headquarters in one particular country or another. The fantasy of "dual headquarters" was exposed when Daimler-Benz "merged" with Chrysler in the late 1990s. The deal was passed off as a "merger of equals" with "dual headquarters" in Detroit, Michigan and Stuttgart, Germany. But as soon as the ink was dry on the deal, the German CEO led his fellow American counterparts in a rendition of Don McLean’s "American Pie." It wasn’t long after that that American executives loyal to Chrysler realized Stuttgart was going to call the shots, and they started to bail out along with a significant percentage of American owners and investors.

The only thing American about DaimlerChrysler today is the factories that remain in America, which number far fewer than those operated by General Motors or Ford. Chrysler is now much more Apple Strudel than Apple Pie. Paychecks and pink slips now come out of Stuttgart and not Detroit. Time will tell if the Molson Coors deal goes in a similar direction, but the new company is based in Canada, not the United States.

[Brock Samson]

 What's the source of this article?...

[70charginglizard]

What's the source of this article?...

http://www.howtobuyamerican.com/bamw/bamw-050726-leverage.shtml

[Brock Samson]

I know that few of you are big readers, but, If ya care...

http://www.detnews.com/specialreports/2000/takenforaride/index.htm

also..

http://ezinearticles.com/?Auto-Industry-Favorites,-Taken-for-a-Ride&id=50842

[RT DAVE]

Not meaning to nit-pick, but this isn't exactly late breaking news.  Maybe the source of your information isn't old (haven't check your reference) but I thought it was common knowledge in Mopar circles that this was a hostile takeover.   

[Brock Samson]

 No, not breaking news now in 2005, but some folks don't know the Company history at all, and don't even realise WHY the Charger is a sedan or the other recent products in the DCX line up are years late to market...
   The so called "merger of equals" wasn't found out to be a trojan horse, lie or hostile takeover intill the managment that signed off on on the deal collected their checks... 
  So it pays to rememeber because..
   those who forget history are bound to repeat it..

[Brock Samson]

    The Chrysler Group.
   The American arm of the German-American conglomerate has been living high off of the hog with its 300/300C for such a long time now that things are beginning to be frayed around the edges. With the inevitable slowdown hitting its star car, look to Chrysler to prop up the car with special editions and their last trump card - the convertible version. But that isn't going to fix what's really ailing Chrysler, because they have a product "hole" that's growing by the hour. The Magnum sport wagon is an excellent piece, but it's a glorified niche player in the market. The big question mark is the Charger. Chrysler marketing operatives are desperate to impart the ruboff "buzz" from the 300C on to its stylistically-challenged four-door, but as one southern Dodge Dealer told us, "That dog won't hunt even with a T-Bone." Chrysler is touting the hip-hop community's embracing of the Charger, but after entering into a formal agreement with Dub magazine at last fall's SEMA show, their credibility is shot. Are the rappers really frothing at the mouth to get their hands on the Charger? Who knows? We don't know how much of it is true and how much of it is Auburn Hills-orchestrated and calculated spin. Besides the Charger, what do the folks in Auburn Hills have coming? Let's see, the Power Wagon Ram Truck and the 2006 model year's answer to the question that absolutely no one's asking - the unfortunate Jeep Commander. This painful product lull is going to last until Chrysler gets their new smaller car ready, which showed such promise in concept form. But that's a long way away. So, this fall is shaping up to be a double whammy of bad news for Chrysler and its dealers - with no employee discount pricing and no compelling hot products to boast about. As we like to say around here, "not good."
from autoextreamist.com
So Andy, What's your take on all this?..

[bull]

"The big question mark is the Charger." Here's the answer: