swallac2

That DaimlerChrysler was going to buy Nissan before Renault? I was surprised when I saw it in a book I am reading. The book is named "Taken for a ride, How Daimler-Benz drove off with Chrysler" It talks about how, well, Daimler swindled the Chrysler investors. In anycase, the "co-CEO" of the company, Juergen Shremp (sp) really wanted Nissan because of their strong manufacturing skils and large share of the Asian market. He wanted to aquire Nissan just 6 months after closing the Chrysler deal. Luckly his board members stopped it. Otherwise Nissan may have been in the same boat as Chrysler is now!!

[maxi-overdose]

iTrader: (3)

just Nissan USA or the entire Nissan?
Nissan Japan is one of the oldest Family owned business.

swallac2

It started with just interest in Nissan Diesel, but the president of Nissan said it was all or nothing (i.e. the whole thing). It was mentioned that Ford was also interested (this was when Ford was buying everything else). It came out later that Ford was just playing interested to drive up the cost of Nissan and screw over Daimler.

Also in the book was the fact that Ford was also originally in talks with Daimler, Ford wanted to buy Daimler. Who wants an S class Escort!! The book also talks about how originally Lee Iococca and another major investor were going to buy up all of the Chrysler stock and take the company private. The threat of that deal is what pushed Chrysler into initial talks with Daimler. It's not what lead to the merger, but it didn't help.

augie

Wow...very interesting stuff.

SptBiz

Maybe Chrysler got the last laugh !

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...8/mercedes.htm

swallac2

Actually, Bob Lutz is having the last laugh. He was forced out the door during the merger by Bob Eaton (the other Co in the Co-CEO of DaimlerChrysler). He now gets more press than he needs and seems to be turning GM around, i.e. the return of the Pontiac GTO.