December 03, 2006	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 11, 1427

FRANKFURT, Dec 2: Volkwagen brand group chief Wolfgang Bernhard has met with DaimlerChrysler head Dieter Zetsche to discuss his possible return to DaimlerChrysler, German magazine Automobilwoche said on Saturday.

The magazine also said Bernhard was in talks with Volkswagen about annulling his contract and that negotiations centered around a competition clause in it, which could prevent him from joining a rival car maker for up to two years.

Volkswagen announced last month that Chief Executive Bernd Pischetsrieder, who brought restructuring expert Bernhard into the group, would step down at the year's end and be replaced by Audi head Martin Winterkorn.

Since then, there has been mounting speculation in the German media that Bernhard, who used to work for DaimlerChrysler, could also be leaving Volkswagen.

Automobilwoche said Bernhard could be a successor to Chrysler's Tom LaSorda after big losses as the US carmaker.

Bernhard used to be Chrysler's chief operating officer and was a prime architect of the US carmaker's turnaround early this decade when Zetsche was Chrysler head.—Reuters