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Autoline Detroit: DaimlerChrysler Chairman Has No Plans to Retire

21 May 1999

Autoline Detroit: DaimlerChrysler Chairman Has No Plans to Retire

    DETROIT, May 21 -- Despite a swirl of rumors that he would
soon step down, DaimlerChrysler chairman Robert Eaton says it's
not going to happen anytime in the near future.  "At this point I can assure
you I have no plans whatsoever to leave.  But on the other hand, when things
are going great and there's no need for me anymore and I'm in the way, I'll be
the first one to raise my hand and say it's time," Eaton said on Autoline
Detroit.
    Robert Eaton co-chairman of DaimlerChrysler appears this Sunday morning at
10:30 a.m. on Autoline Detroit with John McElroy.  In his first major
television interview since the historic merger of DaimlerBenz and Chrysler,
Eaton spoke candidly on a wide range of topics.

    On being dropped from the S&P 500:
    "Obviously I think S&P made a mistake" but Eaton also admitted he had not
given up hope of being re-listed by the index.  "The way we can make sure we
attract a lot of U.S. investment is to outperform everybody else.  Ultimately,
even the index won't overpower that."

    On a Japanese Economic Recovery:
    "We're not in a hurry at all in Asia.  I wish I was a lot more positive on
Asia than I am, but I'm not."
    Eaton also talks about why DaimlerChrysler did not acquire Nissan,
explains why many executives of the former Chrysler have left DaimlerChrysler,
and puts into context DaimlerChrysler's strategy for upcoming labor
negotiations.  He also says DaimlerChrysler is going to consolidate its
automotive operations into one unit, not separate units as currently
configured.
    Eaton was interviewed yesterday for Autoline Detroit by host John McElroy,
Joe White of the Wall Street Journal, Joann Muller of Business Week and Edward
Lapham of Automotive News.
    Autoline Detroit with John McElroy airs each Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m.
and again on Monday morning at 7 a.m. on Detroit Public Television. Streaming
video of the program is available from 1 p.m. eastern time Friday May 21 at
http://www.theautolink.com.  Autoline Detroit is underwritten by General
Electric and Visteon Automotive Systems.