Published reports indicate that a deal between DaimlerChrysler and Caterpillar announced last year has hit some roadblocks.

Under the agreement, announced in November, the two companies were to form a 50/50 global alliance to develop, manufacture, market and distribute medium-duty engines, fuel systems and other powertrain components.
Now it appears that the companies underestimated or overlooked "a number of hurdles," according to a Handelsblatt newspaper in Stuttgart, Germany, where DaimlerChrysler's headquarters are located.
One of them is that Caterpillar competes with DaimlerChrysler's Detroit Diesel and Powersystems subsidiaries. Powersystems wants to supply 20,000 engines to Freightliner a year. The overlaps in businesses apparently are causing some antitrust headaches. And of course, the slump in U.S. truck and engine sales is affecting plans.
Another report says the headaches will cause the implementation of the deal to be delayed at least two months.
Other reports indicate that DaimlerChrysler and Hyundai's planned truck-making joint venture has been delayed until the end of this year or early next year.
The news comes on the heels of DaimlerChrysler's replacement last week of President and CEO Jim Hebe with a turnaround expert.