In a series of bleak announcements on Monday and Tuesday, German auto giant Daimler AG announced a shortened working week in 2009 at some German car plants to compensate for an expected drop in demand. According to the German Association of the Automotive Industry, 2009 is shaping up to be worst year for new car sales since the country's reunification in 1990. Still, Daimler hasn't lost all of its holiday cheer. In Munich, the company has set up a giant Mercedes advent calendar. Every day in the run up to Christmas, one of the calendar's 24 doors will open to reveal a different Mercedes model, ranging from classic to contemporary.