Take this for what it is, a rumor about which General Motors and DaimlerChrysler have refused to comment. According to a report today in German magazine Manager Magazin, DaimlerChrysler is in talks to sell its Chrysler Group division to GM. The magazine cites sources within DaimlerChrysler as saying that talks are in full swing but at an early stage. Dieter Zietsche, CEO of DaimlerChrysler, refused to comment on the report when asked at this morning's press conference where the company's Recovery and Transformation plan, a.k.a. Project X, was announced.
So neither side is talking about whether such talks exist, which leads one to speculate that there's some truth to these rumors. GM, however, would not seem to be in a position to purchase a rival domestic automaker with numerous competing products considering that it's just beginning to emerge from its own turnaround and restructuring plan. What's more, we can't imagine the complexities GM would encounter trying to absorb Chrysler's union workforce.
We bet DaimlerChrysler and GM are talking about something, but wouldn't put money on the subject being the wholesale purchase of the Chrysler Group.
Thanks to all who tipped on this!
[Source: Yahoo.biz]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
RamSport47 @ Feb 14th 2007 4:01PM
If i'm not mistaken...GM and DCX are in ajoint veture on a Hybrid powertrain...could they have been talking about that?...More likely than a purchase of Chrysler Group by GM
NoNameDenton @ Feb 14th 2007 4:03PM
Wow, a non-aftermarket Camaro with a Hemi, guess we will have the Big 2 for the USA instead on the Big 3, This would make the market place very interesting
SSBR @ Feb 14th 2007 4:03PM
Great, 2 train wreaks combining forces.
http://www.rolesor.com
Jim @ Feb 14th 2007 4:05PM
This would be as silly as Macy's buying Marshall Fields. Why buy a competitor that has similar products, similar customers, and similar problems. It just makes no sense, so it's probably true. GM would be better off with a company that had something to offer that GM doesn't already have, like... Subaru.
Oh, wait.
Howard Kerr @ Feb 14th 2007 4:08PM
In just the last week I have read/seen several news stories that say the board of DCX are being STRONGLY urged to dump Chrysler. ALL the stories cite the DCX board as being quite concerned about the (recent) downturn in Chrysler's financial health. My feeling is that those folks who want to split apart DCX have been waiting for any excuse to get Daimler back to being a completely German company and have seized on the poor financial health of Ford, GM, and now Chrysler as proof that the American part of DCX is, and most likely will continue to be a drag on company/shareholder value.
I can't imagine WHY GM would want Chrysler, or where they would manage to get the cash, unless DCX does a BMW-Rover like deal. That is, "you can have the company for a token sum of money".
RamSport47 @ Feb 14th 2007 4:21PM
It wasn't too long ago that the then healthy Chrysler arm of DCX was supporting the very weak Mercedes side...no one was clammoring to dump Mercedes
Elliott @ Feb 14th 2007 4:26PM
How are Sears and K-mart doing?
Michael Karesh @ Feb 14th 2007 4:29PM
I can't see how this makes any sense, either. With the possible exception of the minivans, which aren't in a profitable segment, I can't see what Chrysler would add to GM now that the zetas are on the way.
This would keep Toyota out of the #1 spot for a few more years, though.
Juan @ Feb 14th 2007 4:29PM
Don't think GM has money to burn on buying Chrysler.
Toyota does though...
NoNameDenton @ Feb 14th 2007 4:35PM
Honda would not want the baggage that comes with buying Chrysler, I doubt Honda would want to spend the mone when they should be using the money to make Acura a better luxury brand (maybe a rwd and awd cars finally). Toyota does not need the lag on their profits, and Daimler's old partner for engines and platforms Mitsubishi has their own issues (namely shrinking North American sales). Renault-Nissan is having their own issues, since Nissans boost has slowed. VW does not need the extra baggage that would come with Chrysler. That would leave the Chinese or the Korean, and maybe the Indians.
dakota @ Feb 14th 2007 4:36PM
Won't happen.
Too many conflicting brands, with GM trying to downsize their lineup.
I say VW is going to go for it.
EnviroBob @ Feb 14th 2007 4:40PM
Maybe Toyota should have bought Chrysler last year, that way they could have added the Pentastar's 2,142,505 units sold to their own sales of 2,542,525 and then GM wouldn't have outsold them by over a million and a half units for 2006.
Lithous @ Feb 14th 2007 4:42PM
"Toyota does though..."
How many new factories would Toyota build in the U.S. if they knew that each one would go union right away? Probably zippy. And I don't think Toyota is going to "buy into the union", literally.
NoNameDenton @ Feb 14th 2007 4:44PM
Dakota, VW has its own issues in Europe with labor unions or whatever they call them in Europe, they do not need the same issues with American workers
rrr @ Feb 14th 2007 4:47PM
#4 "GM would be better off with a company that had something to offer that GM doesn't already have, like... Subaru."
Well GM had a car like Subaru...SAAB. GM was unable to keep that car cool and unique. What makes you think that if GM buys Subaru in 5-6 years Subaru will not have an SUV that looks A LOT like Trail Blazer.
carlos @ Feb 14th 2007 4:49PM
They should sell SAAB to Mercedes, maybe they'll know what to do with it. Maybe HUMMER too, they can sell it while its still hot.
pat @ Feb 14th 2007 4:51PM
who would have thought some many people here would be expert in M&A analysis.
Hondacura @ Feb 14th 2007 4:56PM
We don't have to worry about Toyo buying Chrysler. Toyo is too smart to buy them. GM still doesn't have any cash to burn to buy anyone! Honda will not ever buy another car manufacturer. Chrysler will have to sell off Jeep to surive. They won't sell off Dodge because the Chrysler share almost 100% from design to mechanics. I doubt GM can buy a twinkie at the local pony keg.
Paul Murray @ Feb 14th 2007 4:59PM
"who would have thought some many people here would be expert in M&A analysis."
Didn't you know, people here are experts on everything.
Lithous @ Feb 14th 2007 5:01PM
The only ones that could pull it off are the Japanese. Way too many Americans think the Japanese are the greatest thing since sliced bread so when it came to laying off all (but maybe 100) Chrysler workers then Americans will just think, "That bad Chrysler had nothing but poor workers and Toyota *had* to do it because they just didn't know how to work and be a part of a productive company". You know, all the myth based bullshite. So then Toyota closes the factories for a short time (as they could afford it) then they go back in with non-union workers one by one over time. Just deal with the unions for a couple of years until they start over in the factories they bought with new non-union workers. Get more tax incentives to re-open.
Keep the "muscle car" factories running as-is the longest since Toyota doesn't have anything un-appliance-like. Own the Jeep name so that both German and Japanese will have both punked it around to show how its part in WWII was not forgotten.
Have rights to GM's hybrid system (since Chyrsler had a hand in developing it) which probably added to Toyota's would be even better than what Toyota would have alone (hey, any additional technology can help even if Toyota is on top right now).
Minivans (Chrysler still competes well in this), muscle cars, Viper, and Jeep. Things Toyota could use in some way, shape or form.