The Divorce Is All But Final

That's right people. In a small amount of time Mercedes Benz will be free of the anchor that is the Chrysler Automotive Group...

The crazy thing is that I do wish that it didn't have to be this way. But unfortunately, the CAG has managed to do nothing but barely break even, or lose money, consistently since the "merger" with Daimler Benz in 1998 (-$1.6 Billion last year). The Mercedes Automotive Group is the most profitable arm of the business, and the merger has been attributed by many business analysts to be the SOLE REASON for the loss in share price of DaimlerChrysler AG...

One of the greatest car releases in recent history, the Chrysler 300, is a prime example of what these two companies could do when cooperating to achieve a goal. The car has been a huge hit with buyers and the automotive aftermarket, and despite my thoughts about the vehicle (once was given one as a rental, about which I wrote an entire post entitled "K-Mart Bentley"), it's one of the most recognizable cars on the road today.

But this is one success in a sea of MANY failures, and the loss of the CAG has been reported to have been a bit of good news for the Daimler side of the family. They will maintain a 20% share of Chrysler, and return their focus to competing with BMW, Audi, and Lexus in the upscale luxury market.

I hate to say it, but Mercedes is once again Mercedes, and I am thrilled that they can return to the business of building the best luxury cars on earth... :-)