Autoblog

Looking to exit, stage left on a melodious note, Doc Zee has bid the Chrysler team a semi-farewell via email. The message was a polite "thank you," instead of the possibly more appropriate "thanks for letting us swoop in from Stuttgart, blast through your cash and let your product line languish." Dieter Zetsche and Tom LaSorda dashed off the e-mail to all Daimler and Chrysler workers this morning. The sale of the Chrysler unit to Cerberus Capital Management is wrapping up, and the executives extended thanks to employees for all the hard work they've performed over the past nine years. While they are splitting, the rhetoric in the e-mail indicates that there will be some intertwining of the two businesses going forward.

Collaboration will continue on electrical components (we hope Chrysler can teach Mercedes a thing or two about making reliable electrics), platform architectures for unitized SUVs and power units. Those collaborations were likely far underway when the schism occurred, and both companies will benefit from the cross pollination. We bet Dieter can bang out a convincing "Free BIrd" on that axe.

[Source Detroit Free Press]

Chrysler confirmed Wednesday that the controversial "Ask Dr. Z" ad campaign will continue through the end of the year. Steve Miller of Brandweek reports that the current TV and radio spots, which haven't exactly received widespread acclaim, will continue at least through September 5, after which the camapign moves into a new phase. According to a Chrysler marketing communications representative, "Dr. Z could be used to promote some of our upcoming products, like the Aspen and the Nitro."

The $100 million campaign, which also covers the Chrysler Group's "Dream Car Sweepstakes" giveaway, has been criticized for its largely unsuccessful attempt to turn one of the auto industry's most respected executives into a standup comedian and comic book character.

Meanwhile, Chrysler Group sales remain on life-support.

[Source: Brandweek]