For Sale: Chrysler group

[Martin 280s]

I think that in a takeover the only ones who benefit are those who get the 'golden handshake' as for the employees, Do you think the presidents/directors could really give a toss?!

[Grant V]

It's funny how the 'never-can-do-wrong' corporate Wunderkinder of 90's Germany are now frowned upon, and seen as egoistic mistakes: Schrempp, Pischetsrieder....

[john skene]

The logic of a merger was good at the time, as there seems to be a minimum size in the car business to stay competitive and both Chrysler and Mercedes were simply not big enough.  Note that Chrysler is sold for a reported X billions of Dollars, but it cost Mercedes $670 million in cash outflow to achieve the sale!!!

[116Benz]

The best story of mergers was when DaimlerChrysler was going to buy Rolls Royce. RR were wanting them to do the deal, as they were pretty much in the same line of business (high class luxury cars). DC even went to the trouble of building a prototype based on a W140  chassis of a new RR. Thing is the bid was a bit short of the mark, Vickers plc were wanting DC to be new owner right or wrong, coaxing more money out of them was the problem. Hence the bidding war between the big 3 (Volkswagen, BMW and DC). BMW eventually told them that if they lost, there would be no more supplies of equipment (engines, electrics etc). What BMW didn't realise was that, they were being nasty to the wrong ppl. The bidding war came to an end when VW walked off with Bentley at a cheaper price. It was reported that you could tell who was visiting RR on any particular day, as there was always either BMW 7's, S-Class or Audi A8's in the carpark on german rego. Because DC lost out, they had to play the game another way...hence the Maybach.

Another great one was BMW's english patient, the ugly divorce of Rover....

[Brian Crump]

BMW eventually told them that if they lost, there would be no more supplies of equipment (engines, electrics etc).

Who was BMW supplying with engines/electrics?
Regards,
BC

[116Benz]

BMW was supplying RR with engines and electronics (air con units, facia displays), right back to the Silver Seraph, and the 1st Arnage's had BMW V8's, along with various electronic stuff

[Brian Crump]

BMW was supplying RR with engines and electronics (air con units, facia displays), right back to the Silver Seraph, and the 1st Arnage's had BMW V8's, along with various electronic stuff

After the sale by Vickers....but not before....
Regards,
BC

[116Benz]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/122582.stm

It states in the article that they shelved plans to revive Bugatti, that didnt quite pan out that way.