Zetsche: Another marriage of equals?

[TDRadmin]

[RAW]<strong><u>Reprinted from Automotive News, Letters to the Editor, April 19, 2010 (page 12)</u></strong>:<br/><br/>To the Editor:<br/><br/>I read with great interest the news of Daimler, Renault and Nissan forming a partnership of "equal representation" among the three companies ("Zetsche to keep Renault pact 'on Earth,' avoid Chrysler replay," autonews.com, April 8).<br/><br/>Dieter Zetsche announced that he has learned from the failed Daimler Chrysler merger and that this one will focus on "cost savings and car development projects rather than control."<br/><br/>Funny, I thought those were the stated objectives of our infamous marriage "of equals."<br/><br/>I have been waiting 12 years for someone at Daimler to admit that Daimler's quest for absolute control was a primary factor in the failure of DaimlerChrysler.&nbsp; That fact was only too obvious to the many people who worked at the company and tried to make it a success.<br/><br/>I hope this new venture will work where others have failed.<br/><br/>All I can say to Dieter Zetsche is good luck.&nbsp; And to Carlos Ghosn:&nbsp; Watch your back.<br/><br/>Tom Stallkamp<br/>Industrial Partner<br/>Ripplewood Holdings LLC<br/>Bloomfield Hills, Mich.<br/><br/><em>The writer was the last president of Chrysler Corp. and first president of DaimlerChrysler.&nbsp; He left the company in 1999 in a disagreement on the direction of the merger.</em>[/RAW]