> ***** The New York Times
> Some analysts argue that DaimlerChrysler means to use Mitsubishi to
> fill the holes of its international strategy, especially in Asia, and
> that it will try not to become too heavily involved in Mitsubishi
> Motors the way Ford and Renault have with their Japanese partners.
Daimler, the monster Eurokeiretsu par excellence, wants in on all that juicy Mitsubishi market share and FDI in SE Asia; MM would like to export to the Eastern European markets of the future. Incidentally, MM's financial position isn't all that bad; total debt of 42% revenues, but very competitive in the truck biz and lots of plants in promising SE Asian markets. In return, MM gets half of a joint venture in the Netherlands, i.e. Nedcar, which is supposed to produce Daimler's quite successful Smart subcompact, plus leading edge fuel-cell tech.
It's scary, how fast the Mitsubourgeoisie is learning from the Eurobourgeoisie.
-- Dennis