Reuters is reporting today that DaimlerChrysler's planned 8,500 job cuts at the Mercedes Car Group are well on track.

According to Guenther Fleig, Mercedes' personnel chief, "There is no indication that the program will not be successful," and noted that the 8,500 target would be easily surpassed if one extrapolated the demand so far.

Already, more than 43,000 interviews have been conducted with employees interested in the job-cutting program, and 10,000 have been interviewed  more than once.

Despite greater than expected interest from middle-aged staffers, Fleig went on to indicate the $1.1 billion set aside to finance the job cuts "should suffice."

Once implemented, the job cuts are expected to save the Mercedes Car Group around $600 million in annual labor costs.

Cha-Ching, Cha-Ching.

What's that noise?  It's the sound of Dieter counting the Christmas bonus he'll be receiving once he saves stockholders $600 million a year.

For more info, you can check out the full article over at Reuters by clicking here.