Mercedes scrambling to recover reputation for quality
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?
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.
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.
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.
You have that backwards, Daimler-Benz purchased Chrysler and became Daimler-Chrysler. Almost all of the Chrysler managment is gone.
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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."
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".
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Q. Which company started out small, became big, created a name and respect for itself, blundered their product, regrouped itself, and became great again?
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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.



