Neicey59

As many of you know the 04 Consumer reports list MB as #79 overall. In the top running (not necessarily in order) were Toyota, Honda, Infiniti <big surprise>, and Lexus.

In a conversation with a Service Manager at one of the local Stealerships he mentioned being in a meeting with over 600 other Manager's and MB's Senior Management Team (Corp) admitted to design, build, and supplier problems. The problems of course are reflected as quality concerns. MB is promising to be back on top of the Heap by 2007, but have they allowed themselves to slip too far to recover?

E430 George

If this is true, than I think that Mercedes can very well recover.

They can ride on their reputation and more importantly image well beyond 2007. By taking the issue seriously and aiming for 2007, they should turn out fine.

E-Klasse

I think the quality issue being much lower was also due to the Chrysler side of house. Being rated as Diamler/Chrysler hurt the Mercedes line. There was an interview on TV with a upper exec with Diamler/Chrysler that said the whole company line would improve by 2007. The Toyota and Lexus line of cars has always been tighter knit than Mercedes and Chrysler are. But that is changing with cars like the 300C, the Crossfire and the diesel version of the 2005 Jeep Liberty.

hubert

Yeah ok in 2007 what about our cracking dashboards on W210's.

Neicey59

2007 seems to be the magic date for MB, but it seems I remember a now Ex MB Prez who promised a change by 2003. Problems are running rampant on the 03 E Class, and many of those owners are demanding the 04 model due to the comand issue.

The ML made Benz the laughing stock of the industry, and the problems with that vehicle still aren't corrected. I know because MB recently bought my 01 ML back from me. Why blame Chrysler? They are higher on the quality list than MB. From what I understand when the smoke cleared the truth was evident. Chrysler did indeed purchase Daimler, but industry insiders including the guys at Edmunds have stated Chrysler hasn't touched the manufacturing end of the Benz business.

Benz has no one to blame but themselves. Hopefully they can once again make their name synonymous with luxury and quality. If not my next new car won't have the 3 points.

E-Klasse

You have that backwards, Daimler-Benz purchased Chrysler and became Daimler-Chrysler. Almost all of the Chrysler managment is gone.

MBZ12

It doesn't matter who bought who....chrysler's are a piece of ***** as is dodge and plymouth. And I hate to say it but Mercedes has going that route! It can all be regained but it all starts from step one of the engineering process. Pay attention to details when you design and build with quality in mind. This includes using only the best materials in the process....My .02

Whitey

Also improve on the QC process! I hear a significant part of the QC on the W211 was carried by the customers!

E-Klasse

Plymouth has been gone for a while now. The whole company needs to turn it around.

Neicey59

Actually they would like shareholders to believe the entire deal was a merger; however, apparently as mergers go - this one was a shady as they come, see article below:

Schrempp defends Daimler-Chrysler deal as "merger of equals"
Dec 09 '03


WILMINGTON, United States (AFP) — DaimlerChrysler Chairman Juergen Schrempp defended the 1998 deal between Daimler-Benz and US auto giant Chrysler as a "merger of equals," brushing aside allegations of fraud.

Testifying in federal court in 1.2 billion-dollar lawsuit claiming he and other executives duped Chrysler shareholders into accepting the deal, Schrempp stated, "I did not defraud anyone."

Schrempp is the key witness in the action brought by billionaire tycoon Kirk Kerkorian, who has accused the German firm of engineering a takeover of the US automaker while calling it a "merger of equals."

The German auto executive was greeted by dozens of photographers and television cameras as he arrived at the Wilmington courthouse where the trial is being held.

Asked by DaimlerChrysler attorney Thomas Allingham if if he had defrauded Kerkorian or his Tracinda holding company, Schrempp said simply, "No."

About about whether the plan was a merger of equals, he replied, "Yes, because what we said in the merger agreement was precisely fixed and done."

He added, "The description of a merger of equals was absolutely correct. By telling the truth I did not defraud anyone."

Neicey59

(CBS) Billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian on Monday sued DaimlerChrysler AG for more than $8 billion, accusing the German automaker of deceiving shareholders when it bought Chrysler Corp. for $36 billion in 1998.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Delaware, charges DaimlerChrysler with "fraudulently inducing the 1998 vote of Chrysler shareholders" and "knowingly deceiving" shareholders and other parties by representing the deal as a "merger of equals".

mbtech208

Okay Schrempp, if it was a merger of equals, why are there no more original Chrysler Corporation members on the board?

EddieGTP

Q. Which company started out small, became big, created a name and respect for itself, blundered their product, regrouped itself, and became great again?

A.

michakaveli

Chrysler Corporation! - is it okay from a business graduate?!?

deuce zer0