based group's 1998 merger with U.S. carmaker Chrysler. In previous years, Schrempp was under attack as a result of the big losses run up by Daimler Chrysler's U.S. Chrysler offshoot and its ailing Japanese partner, Mitsubishi Motors. Now the collapse of earnings at Mercedes-Benz and questions about the quality of the cars it produces has set alarm bells ringing among investors about the luxury car group. Mercedes-Benz's earnings slumped by 97 per cent to 20 million euros (29 million dollars) in the fourth quarter of last year. Once the jewel in the crown of the Daimler Chrysler empire, Mercedes Benz last week suffered another embarrassing blow when it was forced to recall 1.3 million cars worldwide raising fresh doubts about the quality of its cars.
