FRANKFURT (AFP) - German-US auto giant DaimlerChrysler is considering holding on to Chrysler's four-wheel drive Jeep if it decides to sell its loss-making US subsidiary, the business daily Handelsblatt reported on Thursday.

Quoting company sources, the newspaper said that DaimlerChrysler was considering taking the Jeep brand out of Chrysler and holding on to it as an independent niche marque, should it come to a sale of Chrysler.

Chrysler's other brands include Dodge and Chrysler.

Handelsblatt said that experts believed the Jeep, of which 595,000 were sold last year, would fit better with DaimlerChrysler's up-market Mercedes brand.

A spokesman for DaimlerChrysler declined to comment.

This is good rumor ...it gives me renewed hope for a german designed CRD in the wrangler.

 

Thank the LORD up above

 

niche market = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

unimog
g-wagen
ML

I like the idea of a Jeep brand on its own but it just sounds like an excuse to build very exspensive but very capable Jeeps.

 

Will the germans know what to do with jeeps? I'd hate to see them screw it up.

 

Will the Jeeps get Fahrvegneugen!!! Some of the old folks will get that one!

 

As an American of German descent - my $.02:

Jeep is an AMERICAN brand, and should remain AMERICAN owned. I never cared about nationalism, and used to gladly buy imports if I felt they were superior to what the US manufactureres were putting out (which, for a long time in the "car" segment, was absolute garbage for the most part). Now, as I get older and am seeing the impact that "offshoring" and such are having on the US job market, I'm realizing the importance of supporting US workers by buying US products. I'm PROUD to own my Jeep, am proud that it's "American" and hope that it stays firmly rooted in the US.

 

Jeep which is controlled by Chrysler group, is already owned by the Germans.

 

Does that mean they're going to sell off the 2WD Jeeps?

 

This is good and bad:

Good:
More Diesels
Better Interiors, made with non Chrysler parts
No Chrysler Engines
Mercedes Trannys

Bad:
Jeep is now German, and at least they were half American before
Prices will go up FOR SURE
Parts will cost more due to Fancy Schmancy German Items
Servicing at dealers will be weird, do you bring it to a DCX dealer or a Mercedes Dealer, Because in Canada Jeep/Dodge/Chrysler all all one dealer. They dont have JUST Jeep dealers.

 

**Ehhhhnntttt** [buzzer] - We're sorry, but that is not the correct answer.

From DCX's own website, regarding stockholders:
"DaimlerChrysler stockholders are located equally in the United States (44 percent) and Europe (44 percent)."


Also from DCX's own webstie, concerning who runs the show (Germans or Americans):
"Q: Who runs DaimlerChrysler?
A: DaimlerChrysler has Co-Chairmen and Co-Chief Executive Officers. They are Jürgen E. Schrempp and Robert J. Eaton. Mr. Schrempp was Chairman of Daimler-Benz, while Mr. Eaton was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chrysler Corporation. Together, they oversee DaimlerChrysler operations.
DaimlerChrysler is domiciled in Stuttgart, Germany and has dual operational headquarters: Stuttgart, and Auburn Hills, Michigan, in the United States. Both Mr. Schrempp and Mr. Eaton have offices and staff in both locations."


So, you're only half-right, or half-wrong... techically, they're 1/2 German-owned.