Daimler AG remains open to selling its remaining 19.9 percent stake in Chrysler LLC to Cerberus Capital Management LP but cannot predict whether an agreement will be reached, the German automaker's top executive said Sunday, according to AP Daimler Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche told reporters at the North American International Auto Show that negotiations had not resumed but the companies had «some contact» over the remaining share of Chrysler. In November, relations between Daimler and Cerberus soured when Cerberus accused Daimler of «intentionally and materially» misleading the private equity firm before the German automaker sold an 80.1 percent stake in Chrysler in 2007. Daimler said the allegations were baseless. «We will see if the discussions will resume. We are certainly open to that and when the proposals are reasonable, we are willing to close this whole discussion constructively and successfully,» Zetsche said. «But I can't forecast if and when this might happen.» Asked whether the charges by Cerberus had strained future negotiations, Zetsche said, «as far as we are concerned, of course, always ... . We have interest in an amicable solution and this requires reasonable positions on both sides.» Stuttgart, Germany-based Daimler said in November that the talks became more challenging because of «exaggerated demands» from Cerberus. Daimler said the firm was making demands that exceeded the value of the private equity firm's investment in Auburn Hills, Michigan-based Chrysler. Blaming the global financial crisis, Daimler abandoned its 2008 earnings forecast in October and said its equity interest in Chrysler hurt earnings before income and taxes by about $450 million (351 million euros). Despite a significant setbacks for the global auto industry, Zetsche said Daimler-Benz sales performed «relatively well» in 2008, helped by strong sales of the C-Class sedan. Sales fell about 2 percent to 1.256 million cars in 2008. He said the automaker remained optimistic about 2009, when it will introduce a new E-Class sedan and work to speed the development of advanced technologies. Daimler unveiled plans Saturday to develop an electric car. Zetsche said it was «possible» that the second half of the year could show signs of improvement in the global auto industry. «We don't think it helps a lot to complain every day about the world and how bad everything is,» Zetsche said.
