On Aug. 4, 2006, Standard&Poor's Ratings Services revised its outlook on Germany-based automaker DaimlerChrysler AG and related entities to positive from stable. At the same time, the 'BBB' long- and 'A-2' short-term corporate credit ratings were affirmed. The outlook revision acknowledges the structural improvements DaimlerChrysler has been making in its core activity, the Mercedes Car Group (MCG), which has successfully been tackling its quality problems and is in the process of balancing its loss-making smart brand. Standard&Poor's considers that MCG is on track to reach its 2007 operating-profit target of 7% return on sales. This would correspond to an operating profit in excess of €3 billion, a level that MCG used to reach or exceed in
