(7 May 1998) German/Nat
News of the merger of car giant Daimler-Benz with the U-S manufacturer Chrysler came as a surprise to workers at the German company's car production plant in Stuttgart.
Some workers expressed the hope that the deal would make jobs secure, but others were worried the deal might be an expensive disaster.
The 38 (b) billion U-S dollar move was announced on Thursday, and is thought to rank as the biggest industrial merger ever.
The merger will transform the car industry and give both companies a bigger stake in the global market.
The companies said the company formed by the merger - DaimlerChrysler - would result in savings of almost 2 billion U-S dollars by 1999.
But the two companies promised to accomplish this without closing any plants and without laying off any of the 422-thousand workers they employ between them worldwide.
Management have even promised to increase staff numbers.
Workers at Daimler Benz's plant in Stuttgart were reassured by the promises.
SOUNDBITE: (German)
"I'm not too sure about it. In general I think the fact that it will make jobs secure in future will get a positive reception."
SUPER CAPTION: VOX POP Daimler-Benz Worker
Workers were taken aback by news of the merger, and some were not convinced that it would be a positive move.
SOUNDBITE: (German)
"Yes, it was a big surprise but on how it really turns out, there we will have to wait for another surprise. If you look back over recent years at other mergers, where more and more money was invested and in the end it turned out to be an expensive business. Let's hope that's not the case here."
SUPER CAPTION: VOX POP Daimler-Benz Worker
Others were reminded of previous reorganisation programmes carried out by Daimler management.
SOUNDBITE: (German)
"Here they are doing exactly the same as Reuter (former head of Daimler) did before. I don't know if that's right."
Question: "What was wrong about it?"
Answer: "Well, the merger into a technology trust hasn't worked, that's what we were able to see, and now it's the same again. I don't think it's right."
SUPER CAPTION: VOX POP Daimler-Benz Worker
But at least one man had praise for the announcement.
SOUNDBITE: (German)
"Yes it came as a surprise to us in the morning when the confirmation came. But I think our board's strategy is right for the car industry."
SUPER CAPTION: VOX POP Daimler-Benz Worker
Consumers will probably not notice a difference, especially in the short term, as the companies have vowed to keep their brands and dealerships separate.
Daimler, which has a reputation for producing luxury cars, has given assurances that the merger will not result in a slide downmarket.
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