It was kind of cute, actually, how they came to be an item: following some small talk last year over a possible joint venture in Latin America or maybe Asia, Juergen Schrempp, 53, chairman of doughty Daimler-Benz, invited Chrysler chief Robert Eaton, 58, to spend some quiet time alone during the crowded Detroit Auto Show in January. Schrempp said he liked Chrysler a lot and suggested that maybe they should consider going all the way.
"I've been thinking about the same thing," replied Eaton, chairman of the once dented but lookin'-pretty-good-these-days American automaker. And so began a rapid courtship, replete with...