After the stunning industrial merger between Daimler-Benz AG and Chrysler Corp. announced last week, reports that Daimler Benz is also negotiating for a business tieup with Nissan Diesel Motor Co. has jolted the Japanese automobile industry.
A move by Daimler-Benz toward the heavy truck manufacturing affiliate of Nissan Motor Co., according to industry people and analysts, is likely to spur some Japanese automakers to find partners for mergers or cooperative ties to survive intensifying global competition.
"Japanese auto manufacturers must be sensitive to these moves," said Shoichiro Toyoda, chairman of both Toyota Motor Corp. and the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations(Keidanren). "I'm sure there will be more tieups to respond to the rapidly changing market."