Zetsche: M-B, Jeep to Just Share Components

Does a story in Automotive News signal the metamorphous of the Chrysler product into a U.S. version of M-B?

No says Dieter Zetsche, CEO of the Chrysler group who was quoted as saying that “the next generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Mercedes-Benz sport-utilities will share a significant number of components, but that Jeep and Mercedes-Benz won't share a platform as a whole, and that their brand identities will not be compromised.

Although M-B loyalists in Germany jealously guard the brand's reputation, and talk of component and platform sharing between Mercedes-Benz and the Chrysler group is a touchy subject, the company's financial crisis has tipped the balance toward sharing to save money.

"We intend to maximize the benefits of combining two directions: Make best use of common components with Mercedes-Benz SUVs, and make best use of common components with our own (Chrysler)SUV product range," Zetsche said in an interview with Automotive News here last week.

Zetsche ruled out complete platform sharing between Jeep and Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Instead, the next Grand Cherokee "will be a blend between an evolution of the current platform and some radical changes to accommodate components which will be common with Mercedes-Benz SUVs."

Do we say goodbye to Chrysler? What do you think?