Detail How Dr. Z Plans to Fix Mercedes   Oleh:  Gumbel, Peter Jenis: Article from Bulletin/Magazine Dalam koleksi: Fortune vol. 160 no. 2 (Jul. 2009), page 80. Topik: Mercedes-Benz; Dieter Zetsche; Sales; Economic Downturn Ketersediaan Perpustakaan Pusat (Semanggi) Nomor Panggil: FF16.40 Non-tandon: 1 (dapat dipinjam: 0) Tandon: tidak ada     Lihat Detail Induk Isi artikel How easy should it be to climb into the back of a Mercedes-Benz wearing ski boots? And how important is it for the quality image of the brand that you can trample with those boots on the car's door frame without the risk of denting it? At the Stuttgart headquarters of Daimler AG (DAI), the "ski-boot test" is one of dozens of fundamental questions that engineers, designers, and product and procurement managers are poring over in weekly meetings in a third-floor conference room near the Untertrkheim engine plant. It's all part of CEO Dieter Zetsche's (pronounced TSET-sheh, and you may remember him as "Dr. Z") plan to revamp the carmaker, an overhaul he hopes will have a profound influence on the future of the company -- and especially on its beleaguered finances and flagging competitiveness. Daimler -- which with 2008 sales of $140 billion dropped to No. 23 on Fortune's Global 500 list from the 11th slot -- is in a tough spot. As sales of premium autos have slumped, the automaker has slowed production and sent thousands of its workers home on paid leave. In the last quarter of 2008 and the first three months of this year, the company sold 25% fewer autos and lost $4.8 billion before interest and taxes. At the truck division, which accounts for one-quarter of its revenue, unit sales are down by 40%. The economic downturn is only partly to blame. Daimler's preeminence in the luxury-auto segment is being eaten away by German rivals BMW and Audi (amazingly, Audi has stayed profitable during the crisis). Opini Anda Klik untuk menuliskan opini Anda tentang koleksi ini! Kembali

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