Frankfurt, July 28: Despite heavy losses in it us arm, a member of Daimlerchrysler's board of management said in an interview released today the international auto giant had no plans to shed is American wing. ``Chrysler is part of us like Mercedes-Benz,'' Ruediger Grube told die welt daily in its Monday edition.

Grube praised his company's position as unrivaled in the world, saying the German-US Daimlerchrysler, with its strategic partners Mitsubishi and Hyundai ``are globally positioned as no other automaker.''

No one was immediately available at Daimlerchrysler for comment. On Thursday Daimlerchrysler announced that net earnings for the entire company fell to USD 125 million in the quarter that ended June 30 from USD 1.26 billion in the same period a year ago.

Grube said that pushing through strategies following the 1998 fusion of the two companies still needs some time.

He also predicted that the worldwide market for automobiles would continue to shrink, as demand falls around the world.

``From the current 60 no more than 45 will survive,'' Grube said.

Bureau Report