Could DaimlerChrysler AG become Daimler General Motors Corp.? While nothing is certain in the nascent Chrysler auction, the rumors continue to churn in the press. The latest buzz comes from The Financial Times, which basically is suggesting an alliance between the two somewhat akin to the Nissan-Renault one. In the latest chatter coming from Europe, the Detroit giant would give the Stuttgart, Germany-based rival a stake in itself in exchange for Chrysler. In other words, GM would use its shares as currency to pay for the troubled U.S. unit of Daimler rather than tapping its cash reserves, which may be the only thing keeping the company afloat considering its staggering health care and pension obligations. Of course, those costs would only get worse should it pick up Chrysler making all the GM-Chrsyler prattle seem rather spurious. —Matthew Wurtzel
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