The merger of Chrysler Corp of the US and German luxury car maker Daimler-Benz last year created the third largest car maker in the world after General Motors and Ford, in terms of market capitalisation.
The combined company, which has joint headquarters in Stuttgart and Detroit, produces around four million vehicles a year. It is co-led by Daimler chairman, Mr Juergen Schrempp, and Chrysler boss Mr Robert Eaton but the latter is due to leave the board in 2001. Daimler-Chrysler produces everything from top-of-the-range Mercedes to well-known US brands like Dodge, Eagle, Jeep and Plymouth.
In 1997, the company had pre-tax profits of £1.7 billion (€2.16 billion) on revenues of £50 billion. Last year's preliminary results should be released before the end of February. At last Friday's close, the company was valued at £69 billion on the stock market.
