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The automobile industry is undergoing rapid global consolidation. The merger of Daimler-Benz and Chrylser to form DaimlerChrysler, Renault becoming a major investor in Nissan, GM becoming a major investor in Fiat, the purchase of Rolls-Royce and Bentley by Volkswagen and BMW, Ford taking a major interest in Kia, and Toyota taking a major interest in Daihatsu are evidence of that consolidation. In his paper:
"Automobile Industry Global Consolidation: Lean Production, Rationalization, and DaimlerChrysler"
Dr. Ebert examines the cause and implications of these mergers and consolidations. He concludes that the drive for efficient and lean production as well as management, marketing and product development benefits of consolidation are likely to intensify the movement towards consolidation. The challenge for the automobile manufacturers will be to evolve into true transnational corporations.
The paper was presented to the Global Finance Conference at Youngstown
State University and the Ohio Association of Economists and Political Scientists
in the Fall of 1998. It was published in Fall 1998 in The Ohio Journal
of Economics and Politics, vol. 12, Issue 1.