Reply #35: The problems started with Freight-liner

[happyslug]

Chrysler Owned the Freightliner Truck Company and in the period before the merger with Daimler, Freightliner provided a Lease that was outstanding for the trucking industry, but a money loser for Chrysler.

Chrysler seems to have covered up the problem with Freightliner during the merger talks (But it was known to Daimler), but the leases were cash drain on the merged company. Added to this the failure of Daimler to launch its SMART car into the American Market (the EPA gave the SMART car only a 37mpg rating, poor for such a small car, I suspect the problem was over reveling by the testers to get it up to 50mph, but still a problem for Daimler) Daimler/Chrysler is in a very weak position (if you include the rapid decline in SUV sales since 2001).