Here is an interesting little snippet of news from the ISNA agency in Tehran, which suggests that, far from exiting the Islamic Republic, DC is staying firm in the Iranian CV business, and is looking to develop a new truck product with its Iranian partner, Iran Khodro Diesel.With all the loose talk concerning and end to the Chrysler relationship – which, after all, is the primary reason the company has a NYSE listing and is therefore concerned about doing business with countries that upset GW Bush – does this point to anything? Of course, the question could be asked about a divested truck business. Would DC CV, which seems to be aiming to produce an increasing number of CVs for the NAFTA market outside the US need a NYSE listing? Just a thought. And here's another one to chew over: one of the larger Merchant Banks has put a €30 per share value on a divested CV operation. Zetshce needs cash to sort Chrysler out. Of course, if this was seen as a step too far, how about a divested CV components business; a brand - Detroit Diesel - already exists.Something is going to happen here: the only thing that is beyond question is that the current DaimlerChrysler is beginning to look untenable. This DC release suggests that fundamental changes are afoot. Whether they will impact upon the truck or the car business remains to be seen.One bit of good news in all of this - for DC at any rate - is this news that a German court has dismissed one law suit against against the company. There are, however, one or more out there, and we suspect that Stutgart's lawyers are going to be working a full week for the foreseeable future.
