Daimler/Chrysler, es scheint sich zu bewahrheiten was hier im Forum angekündigt

verfasst von Albrecht, 08.10.2003, 08:18

-->Hallo zusammen,

hier im Forum hatten wir vor ein paar Tagen prophezeit, daß Schrempp Chrysler wieder an eine amerikanische Firma verkaufen oder verschenken wird. In diesem Artikel wird der Boden dafür vorbereitet.

Herr Schrempp wird für die zu erwartende Glanzleistung wohl mit 100 Mio $ belohnt werden. Beispiele gibt es genug...

Gruß
Albrecht



Backseat Driver
Sell Chrysler Back
Jerry Flint, 10.07.03, 11:00 AM ET

Everyone is writing about Chrysler, but the
message is pretty much the same: Chrysler is
in trouble, and the German masters will soon
be thinking of a way to get rid of the American
unit.

The managers in Stuttgart don't like the ups
and downs in the American mass market. In
August Toyota (nyse: TM - news - people )--as
a company--outsold Chrysler's cars and trucks
in the U.S. So what? I remember a short period
when Chrysler's market share was down near
7% and little American Motors outsold
Chrysler. And I can remember when all of
Chrysler's divisions outsold all of Ford Motor's
(nyse: F - news - people ) divisions.

Yet I believe that someday Chrysler will again
become an independent American-controlled
company.

The present German managers in Detroit haven't done a bad job--at least in
my opinion. Their new products, the Crossfire sports car, the Pacifica wagon
and the coming rear-wheel-drive sedans and wagons are innovative and
good. So what are the problems?

It isn't a universal view, but some auto writers say the new cars aren't home
runs or even ground-rule doubles. Some say that the Pacifica wagon is too
pricey, the Crossfire two-seater isn't special enough, that the coming
rear-drive cars look too bulky and that U.S. buyers will be unwilling to spend
$35,000 to $40,000 for these cars. I don't buy into those arguments. I say
these new vehicles are good, but they won't change Chrysler's fate.

First, understand that Chrysler is largely a truck company today--77% of its
business comes from pickups, minivans and sport utilities. Chrysler's trucks
are successful. Its minivan, despite ever-growing competition, is still the
world's best-selling minivan. The big Ram pickup is a huge success. The
Jeep Liberty is also a success.

The Dodge Durango SUV has been weak, but a new model is out. OK, the
critics say the dealers have to give away Grand Cherokees in order to move
them. Maybe, but it's a tough, overcrowded market now.

What about Chrysler's passenger cars? They are mainly split among the new
rear-wheel-drive models coming out next year and the smaller
front-wheel-drive models. The rear-wheel-drive cars are to be built in one
plant in Canada that has the capacity for 220,000 cars per year on two shifts
and 300,000 on three shifts. But the new models will have higher prices than
the old ones.

High prices and fierce competition in the U.S. today could hold sales to
around 150,000 a year. If that happens, this new platform would be a serious
moneyloser.

Chrysler's front-wheel-drive cars aren't much help. I think it's possible that
DaimlerChrysler (nyse: DCX - news - people ) will give up on Chrysler and
Dodge cars and try to survive on trucks.

I don't think that would work.

A good part of the problem is the market strategy--the killing of Plymouth, the
merging of big Dodge and Chrysler and Jeep dealers under one roof, and the
move upscale. Making better and pricier cars isn't a bad strategy, but it takes
years to accomplish. And I don't think the executives in Germany have the
patience to see through their own strategy.

The old Chrysler succeeded on speed and daring. The Germans are more
methodical than fast. Look at the PT Cruiser, which was an instant hit but is
losing traction. Why? The Germans waited too long before adding new
models, and they still haven't expanded the line to its full potential.
Management failed to add a third row of seats to the Grand Cherokee, which
would have given the line a new burst of life.

I believe the 1998 merger between Daimler and Chrysler could have worked
only if it was a genuine"merger of equals," which was the way the deal was
originally announced. Instead, the Germans planned from the beginning to
mislead the Americans. (Daimler boss Jurgen Schrempp even admitted this
on tape.)

I am particularly bitter toward Schrempp and Daimler management for the
lies and the way that they treated the American executives. I've got a grudge
and I'm not ashamed of it.

The loss potential is enormous: billions of dollars in a single year. If there
isn't drastic improvement--and soon--the German board of supervisors is
bound to consider divestiture. They are well aware of how BMW prospered
once it got rid of Rover.

Some have suggested a spinoff to Daimler stockholders. The company's
biggest stockholder, Deutsche Bank (nyse: DB - news - people ), has a 12%
share, and it wants out of Daimler. I don't think Deutsche Bank wants to end
up owning a large chunk of a damaged Chrysler.

Others have suggested that Daimler might sell off Jeep and its other trucks.
But potential buyers, such as General Motors (nyse: GM - news - people ),
Ford, Toyota and Nissan (nasdaq: NSANY - news - people ), make competitive
trucks and don't need all that old capacity or union contracts. Jeep is another
story; it could be sold, but I'll get to that later.

The best solution: sell all of Chrysler back to Americans. Don't worry. There
will be buyers. The terms will be easy--BMW actually paid the Brits to take
back Rover in 2000.

The tough part is that American buyers will insist that Jeep be part of the deal.
Maybe Daimler will retain a 20% interest in the new American company in
exchange for making Jeep part of the sale.

Don't you remember what happened the other times Chrysler got into
trouble? How leaders with imagination, charisma, spirit and vision appealed
to American patriotism and support for the underdog? Remember all the
rabbits they pulled from the hat--the minivan, the rebirth of the convertible,
turbo cars, five-year warrantees and even the rebate?

I doubt if the American public feels the same degree of loyalty or enthusiasm
for a foreign-owned company. Unless the Germans quickly figure out a way to
get things back on track, the $1 billion loss in the second quarter will be the
prelude to an endless nightmare.

I hope I live to see the day that Chrysler once again becomes an American
company with American management.
<ul> ~ Sell Chrysler Back</ul>

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gesamter Thread:

• Daimler/Chrysler, es scheint sich zu bewahrheiten was hier im Forum angekündigt - Albrecht, 08.10.2003, 08:18
  • So nicht! - Trixx, 08.10.2003, 11:38
    • Doch,die Deflation, die uns heimsuchen wird, wird es erzwingen:-( (owT) - Albrecht, 08.10.2003, 12:09
      • Richtig,denn so wird es kommen - Euklid, 08.10.2003, 13:52
      • Dann wird Chrysler eben zerschlagen und abgewickelt!!!!!!!!!!!!! (owT) - t-bull, 08.10.2003, 15:21