Chrysler Group may be in the thick of it but its parent, DaimlerChrysler, is enjoying its best results in years. The company saw operating profits jump 127% to 1.2 billion for the third quarter despite Chrysler loosing $1.5 billion over the same period. Sales are up 9.3% this year and according to DCX chief Dieter Zetsche, “the downward spiral has changed direction." Yes, it’s hard to believe but just a couple of years ago, things weren’t looking so bright.

Back in 2003, the company that was rated the world's number one luxury brand scored near the bottom of J.D. Power's annual quality survey. Then the automaker suffered numerous setbacks because of faults in its electronic systems that lead to several major recalls. The company even saw its arch rival BMW overtake it in the sales race and had its reputation for building high-quality cars suffer in the face of strong competition from Japan. Today, the company is focusing on improving its quality and manufacturing processes to stay a level above its competition and be once again recognized as one of the premier brands for luxury vehicles.