The sons of DaimerChrysler appear none too phased by the sale of Chrysler. Ownership of Chrysler is reckoned to have cost $58bn in the degradation of the Mercedes share price and money poured in to off-set losses. "What does it tell you when the biggest asset is sold off and the share price climbs?" asks one.

Certainly chief financial officer of DC Bodo Uebber is quoted in Reuters as anticipating the new Daimler AG will have paid off some 70% of its intercompany loans following the sale, reducing debt from Euro36m to Euro10m.