Chrysler, Mercedes Products Begin Major Convergence Under Zetsche

[SDNR]

Yes, I do understand what you are saying NSL ...it would be a big mistake to take it so far perhaps ...hmmm ..it would more likely be at the lower end of Mercedes model range I would think.

...Still, it's interesting that our American members seem to be the most critical of the US side of things .....if Chrysler could just get their interiors up to scratch, they'd be pretty good.

 

[Deutsch]

Any American infultration into MB cars would be an absolute travesty, period. MB stands for something, and to a very large degree that's German, as a representation of the countries heritage and greatness. With this it seems BMW has taken the torch.

 

[SDNR]

I think it is true that MB was once a proud symbol of German engineering genius ...and a source on Nationalistic pride.

But come on Deutsch ...we live in the age of Globalization ..Mercedes-Benz is a global brand ...it has become bigger than "Made In Germany" ....besides, you can not be certain that it is actually 100% "Made In Germany" anymore.

I think, as long as the traditional Mercedes qualities are not compromised ..all will be fine.

As for BMW carrying the torch for Germany ...they are just as much a global brand as Mercedes .....these companies hold very little sentimental patriotism ...they will happily have their cars built anywhere ...I imagine we will see a lot more Chinese-built European cars in the future.

 

[Deutsch]

It has nothing to do w/ "globalism" it's about engineering integrity, but at this point I'm not going to worry about it anymore. It's in the boards and Dieter Zetsche's hands, as long as American made/engineered & designed bits don't make it into MB's , I'll be alright and all will be well. Once that starts happening though, it's all down hill.

 

[SDNR]

Hmmm ..a real patriot ..arn't you Deutsch ...LOL

 

[Deutsch]

Hmmm ..a real patriot ..arn't you Deutsch ...LOL

you say all the wrong things Roberto.

 

[SDNR]

...I hope you're not serious Deutsch ...because I was kidding.

 

[Deutsch]

if i have a benz in my avatar or a like for a model or two, or three, or however many, doesn't mean I've become some full fledged MB fanboy. MB is very much apart of my overall love and enthusiasm for cars, as are the other brands, it just so happens that MB was and is "my first true love" as far as cars go, being it that Mercedes Benz was the first car I was exposed to as a child. So there is a certain expectation, set of beliefs, and hope that I have for the brand, abd I'll fully express that when I deem appropriate.

 

[SDNR]

..Yup, you've told me that before ....I respect that, but I don't see any signs yet that things are suddenly going to drastically change. Actually, it seems that Mercedes is trying to recapture some of it's heritage ...a Gullwing, an S class Cabriolet ....these ideas hark back to the models that established the marque's post-war reputation.

 

[Deutsch]

..Yup, you've told me that before .....

Really??? Your comment made me think otherwise...

 

[SDNR]

Deutsch, I feel like I constantly have to watch what I'm saying with you ....if I make a comment that you do not agree with it doesn't necessarily mean I am being hostile to you.

 

[Deutsch]

Deutsch, I feel like I constantly have to watch what I'm saying with you ....if I make a comment that you do not agree with it doesn't necessarily mean I am being hostile to you.

whatever dude.

 

[SDNR]

It has nothing to do w/ "globalism" it's about engineering integrity, but at this point I'm not going to worry about it anymore. It's in the boards and Dieter Zetsche's hands, as long as American made/engineered & designed bits don't make it into MB's , I'll be alright and all will be well. Once that starts happening though, it's all down hill.

hmm, I wonder if we could expect parts to be developed by Mercedes' other plants around the globe ...what about their Indian plant ..where they already build C and E classes and soon will also make S classes. India has many brilliant and well educated engineers ....things could change a great deal for Mercedes-Benz in the coming years.

 

[Deutsch]

Zetsche wants us to trust him...

In addition, processes and methods are to be harmonized and standardized not just within the business units but also between them. This networking will be much more extensive in the future, ranging from the exchange of know-how and the adoption of best practices to the exchange of technologies and the joint development of components. According to Zetsche, the identity of the brands will not be affected.

I took this quote out of an article from DaimlerChrysler.com from the news section under "Dieter Zetsche Addresses Annual Meeting: Profitability Expected to Improve". Link provided below...

http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/dccom/0-5-7145-1-605502-1-0-0-0-0-0-9-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.html

 

[Deutsch]

Read a tid bit out of the latest edt. of Autocar, in the news section there is talk of a cheaper and better A-class that i s to be released in '09, the car will share it's architecture with the Dodge Caliber which was built off of a Mitsubishi small car (B car) platform. Reading this and looking at the many Chargers, 300's, and Calibers I've come to a peace about the globalized platform sharing idea. No matter what you'll still be getting what you pay for, a high quality piece of kit.

 

[Yperion]

When we were talking about Flying Spur a lot of Mercedes fans liked point out how much it has in common with the "humble" VW Phaeton. The way i see things it was just that VW was ahead of Daimler Chrysler in their product planning and platform sharing strategy.
VW was first and now Mercedes follows. Same with BMW with their new "baby Phantom" which will share platform with the new 7 series.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

When we were talking about Flying Spur a lot of Mercedes fans liked point out how much it has in common with the "humble" VW Phaeton. The way i see things it was just that VW was ahead of Daimler Chrysler in their product planning and platform sharing strategy.
VW was first and now Mercedes follows. Same with BMW with their new "baby Phantom" which will share platform with the new 7 series.

VW Group was first, but they also had many compromised products (first generation at least) as a result of the platform sharing. Hopefully MB doesn't make the same mistakes.

 

[Deutsch]

It's not a matter of "who's first, who's last", but who does the job most efficently. Meaning who spreads costs more evenly and produces less waste and higher returns on their productivity and profit margins.

I think at this point the stakes for platform sharing between various models at different ends of the spectrum is much higher, automakers know that consumers aren't game for playing the role of beta testers and expect the very best, period. Zetsche and his team seems to have engineered their platform sharing strategy as such where there is core, basic compnonentry that is utilized by all brands and tuned very specifically for individualized charateristics to fulfill on different performance traits, etc. So in the end you have very unique product that utilizes shared componentry that would otherwise be very expensive to produce individually and uniquely.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

It's not a matter of "who's first, who's last", but who does the job most efficently. Meaning who spreads costs more evenly and produces less waste and higher returns on their productivity and profit margins.

I think at this point the stakes for platform sharing between various models at different ends of the spectrum is much higher, automakers know that consumers aren't game for playing the role of beta testers and expect the very best, period. Zetsche and his team seems to have engineered their platform sharing strategy as such where there is core, basic compnonentry that is utilized by all brands and tuned very specifically for individualized charateristics to fulfill on different performance traits, etc. So in the end you have very unique product that utilizes shared componentry that would otherwise be very expensive to produce individually and uniquely.

Correct about not mattering who was firt or last, but I think MB are yet to prove they can do this mass platform/component sharing thing succesfully.

 

[siko]

I don't care how nicely anyone puts it, I think this will spell disaster for MB in the long run.