Chrysler not to blame for Mercedes’ drop in quality

[PanterroR]

The quality of Mercedes-Benz has undoubtedly dropped over the years, a fact the carmaker has admitted to, and only recently has it been brought back to a level one would expect from a car wearing the Three Pointed Star. With Chrysler now cut loose, the emphasis on improving quality levels is of top priority at Mercedes says its sales and marketing Chief Dr Klaus Maier.

Many have suggested that a loss of focus and parts sharing with Chrysler following its acquisition back in the mid-1990s were the reasons behind the drop but, according to Maier, it was Mercedes’ own mistakes and quality assurance problems that lead to its decline. “It had nothing to do with Chrysler,” Maier revealed to GoAuto.

Not surprisingly, Mercedes will attempt to maintain many of its ties with Chrysler including the behind-the-scenes cost savings and streamlining that was gained through synergies after the merger.

Product and technology is not the only aspects where Mercedes wants to be a quality leader. Service quality is one area where Mercedes admits it’s lacking in, especially compared with Lexus, which is currently dominating the U.S. luxury market. Numerous reports about poor service at Mercedes dealerships around the world have caused the company to revamp its dealer training systems, however the jury is still out as to whether Mercedes will ever return to its former glory.


Source: Motor Authority » Chrysler not to blame for Mercedes' drop in quality

 

[LaArtist]

yep the ones pointing the fingers at chrysler for this F up.. are just being narrow minded.. its all MB

but the great news is that they are back when it comes to quality
and the even greater news is that they are doing something about the horrid dealer situation..
kudos to MB
Those who try never fail..

 

[PanterroR]

Those who try never fail..

That's not the case always...

 

[LaArtist]

^i know
but if you keep on trying you will probably make it
thats what ive experienced so far in my life atleast

 

[coolraoul]

I think this article is not fully right.

I think it is clear that Chrysler is not responsible of Mercs drop in quality, because some problems were here before the merger: W210 rust problems; W203 finition, A-Class... The ML was sold short after the merger, so engineered much before.

But I think that the problems of Chrysler has cost a lot of money to Mercedes, they may focussed more to Chrysler, and did not see the increasing problems at Mercedes.

If they only had Mercedes, they imho would have react quicker, and solve the problems quicker.

Let's not forget that all the money that went to Chrysler did not went to Mercedes... So Mercedes did not use it whereas BMW focussed only on BMW and used all its money to BMW... It explains why BMW now has more success than Mercedes.

See, now that they sold Chrysler, they have so much money that they decided to buy-back their own shares and to drastically increase the R&D...

If they hadn't Chryslers' problems to solve, they would not be so late on stop&go, brake energy and hybrid.

I think Chrysler was the biggest mistake in Mercedes' history, and Schrempp the responsible of all that. Only saw the business, not Mercedes. Treated Mercedes like a supermarket to developp. And failed, he was the worst Mercedes' drirgent ever. Mitsubishi, Chrysler... More money, less quality... All that was his fault.

Chrysler or nor Chrysler, Schrempp dropped the quality. But without Chrysler, he would have react quicker. And the Board of Directors, without Chrysler to justify, so increasing the efforts to solve Chrysler, would have react quicker. IMHO.

Dr Z. seems to be a remarkable boss for Mercedes. It was slowly time to react strongly.

 

[Tarek]

Of course chrysler is not to be balmed only MB should be blamed for letting itself fall in quality,but it's all coming back

 

[Sunny]

Haha, blaming Chrysler would be like blaming Iraq for New Orleans going under water.

 

[LaArtist]

^lol maybe not that far fetched but your kinda right

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Hmm...I don't believe the article 100%.

Numerous auto analyst, and MB employees themselves, have said literally hundreds of engineers and so forth were sent over to Chrysler. This without doubt impacted on MB. That along with the fact that Schremp was an ARROGANT A??HOLE led to MB's suffering.

Zetsche and Bernard being sent over to Chrysler are prime examples of MB's top talent being used to fix up the basket case they bought! They left behind Chordes who himself was a Screhmp cheerleader and clearly incompetent.

 

[Sunny]

Hmm...I don't believe the article 100%.

Numerous auto analyst, and MB employees themselves, have said literally hundreds of engineers and so forth were sent overto Chrysler. This without doubt impacted on MB. That along with the fact that Schremp was an ARROGANT A??HOLE led to MB's suffering.

Zetsche and Bernard being sent over to Chrysler are prime examples of MB's top talent being used to fix up the basket case they bought! They left behind Chordes who himself was a Screhmp cheerleader and clearly incompetent.

Hahaha, you just made the Iraq analogy actually frighteningly valid! Just replace MB with US, Chrysler with Iraq, Schremp with Bush and Chordes with Malik and there you have it - the whole mess supersized!

 

[coolraoul]

Fully agree with Mr Mercedes. All the interest was to save Chrysler, so lots of money to Chrysler, lots of engineers to Chrysler. So they did not see the warnings of Mercedes, did not give R&D as money as they should... Slow reaction to quality problems.