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The DaimlerChrysler–Mitsubishi alliance refers to the 69-month period during which U.S.-German automaker DaimlerChrysler AG (DCX) held a controlling stake in Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC). First established on March 27, 2000 with the signing of a letter of intent,〔("For Daimler, Mitsubishi Opens the Door to Asia" ), John Schmid, ''International Herald Tribune'', March 28, 2000〕 it was initiated by Jürgen E. Schrempp, the chairman of DCX, who was attempting to build what he called a ''"Welt AG"'' (global corporation) which would have as widespread a presence across worldwide automotive markets as its rivals.〔("Commercial Vehicles Feature: Truck business data – OEMs" ), Michael Hinks-Edwards, ''Automotive world'', June 8, 2004 (subscription required)〕〔("Schrempp scheitert mit Welt AG" ), Orf.at〕 The merger with the Chrysler Corporation had increased Daimler-Benz's share of the North American market, and Mitsubishi Motors offered a gateway to Asia.〔 The deal was to prove costly for both DaimlerChrysler shareholders and for Schrempp personally, whose part in the deal contributed to his eventual replacement at the helm of DCX in 2006.〔("Daimler Chief Schrempp to Be Replaced by Zetsche" ), ''Bloomberg News'', July 28, 2005〕 ==Background== Jürgen Schrempp was one of the primary architects of the ''"Welt AG"'' plan, developed by Daimler-Benz to increase its presence in the American and Asian markets, and to improve its profitability. Schrempp believed that a modern automaker needed a full range of products beyond the luxury vehicle market in which Mercedes-Benz competed, and began looking for a partner as soon as he became chairman in 1994.〔("Jurgen Schrempp: The Auto Baron" ), Karen Lowry Miller & Joann Muller, ''BusinessWeek'', November 5, 1998〕 The Chrysler Corporation was targeted in 1995,〔("DaimlerChrysler 'merger of equals' put on trial" ), Ed Garsten, ''The Detroit News'', November 26, 2003〕 and on January 12, 1998 he met with Chrysler chairman Bob Eaton with the intent of negotiating a merger/takeover.〔("Projekt Welt AG" ), Henrik Böhme, DW-World.de, May 7, 2003〕 Following its completion in May that year, Schrempp then turned to Asia. However, DaimlerChrysler's first steps came to nothing. It considered but ultimately declined to invest in Nissan prior to the Japanese company's alliance with Renault,〔("DaimlerChrysler: Desperately Seeking an Ally" ), Jack Ewing, Emily Thornton & Moon Ihlwan, ''BusinessWeek International'', December 13, 1999〕 and it was rumoured that they also courted Honda that same year.〔〔 Schrempp, who had given a speech in Tokyo in early 1999 where he predicted DCX's market share in Asia would increase from 1.3 to over 10 percent, began to come under pressure to deliver on his promises.〔 Mitsubishi Motors was DaimlerChrysler's third choice partner, but in 1999 MMC chairman Katsuhiko Kawasoe rebuffed their initial approach.〔 However, in the aftermath of the 1997 East Asian financial crisis MMC was saddled with ¥1.7 trillion of debt,〔("Mitsubishi: Fall of a Keiretsu" ), Brian Bremner, Emily Thornton, and Irene M. Kunii, ''BusinessWeek'', March 15, 1999〕〔(History of Mitsubishi ), Funding Universe.com〕 and some outside analysts were suggesting that the company should give priority to becoming a takeover or merger target.〔("Mitsubishi Coy On Partnership" ), Gerry Kobe, ''Automotive Industries'', August 1999〕 Kawasoe rejected this, preferring to present Mitsubishi as an equal partner to potential suitors, adding that Mitsubishi would continue to follow their longstanding approach of establishing ventures without capital tie-ups.〔 But eventually a deal was struck: DCX would purchase a controlling 34 percent stake in the company for ¥450 billion (€2.1 billion).〔("Daimler grabs Mitsubishi" ), ''CNN Money'', March 27, 2000〕〔("Don't Wait For More" (boxout) ), Murakami Mutsuko, ''Asiaweek'' vol.26, no.13, April 7, 2000,〕 This would ostensibly preserve Mitsubishi's "independence", as only three out of the company's ten board members would be elected by the new largest shareholder, although DaimlerChrysler did now possess a veto power over boardroom decisions.〔("Daimler Gets Closer To Mitsubishi Deal" ), John Schmid, ''International Herald Tribune'', March 23, 2000〕 For DCX, the benefit would come from increased market share without MMC's debts appearing on their balance sheet.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「DaimlerChrysler–Mitsubishi alliance」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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