BMW in talks with Merc

far2000

AMG Aficionado

Messages

1,604

• Jun 11, 2007

• #1

BMW in talks with Merc

11/06/2007 07:16



Berlin - BMW wants to intensify cooperation with its fellow German luxury car maker Mercedes, a top BMW executive told a German magazine in comments released on Sunday.
"Cooperation is a good approach," said Michael Ganal, BMW sales and marketing chief, as it allows "each group its freedom," he told Wirtschaftswoche in an article to be published on Monday.
"The two brands are in the luxury segment, they are both high-tech, they are both independent but they are not the biggest car makers," he said.
Ganal declined to say in which areas BMW and Mercedes, owned by DaimlerChrysler, the increased cooperation would come. The two firms already collaborate, together with General Motors, on the development of hybrid cars. The magazine also said that BMW was looking at introducing a fourth brand alongside BMW, Mini and RollsRoyce, and that it was interested in GM's Volvo unit. A spokesperson for Volvo declined to comment.



lOOKS VERRRY INTERESTING, IMAGINE A CAR WITH MERC STYLING AND POWER WITH BMW HANDLING!!!!!! THATS WAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF!!!

 

LaArtist

Wunderkind of Wheels

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31,371

Name

Dog the bounty hunter

• Jun 11, 2007

• #2

this is sick.. haha.. but it cant happen..it will probably turn out to be some partnership about a certain tech or other car parts at most..

 

EnI

Piston Pioneer

Messages

14,074

• Jun 11, 2007

• #3

Remember my words about blasphemous options regarding BMW future being considered?

One of them is a joint-venture or even a Holding company with Daimler AG, and also if possible with Porsche Automobile Holding (Porsche AG + Volkswagen AG) as well. The idea is to create a super holding of all three big German automotive groups - sharing some financing, purchasing, R&D & manufacturing, yet leaving operational businesses independent. The milder option is to just sign an agreement on some common projects.

Quandt's representatives have reportedly already approached Piech / Porsche family presenting them the general idea. The reaction is yet unknown. It is rumored one of the further proposal could also be a takeover of Daimler AG by joined BMW Group + Porsche holding.

Interesting stuff ...

 

D

Deleted member 25

Guest

• Jun 11, 2007

• #4

Oh god we could have the most powerful association of the human world.

 

I

Imhotep Evil

Torque Titan

Messages

4,993

• Jun 11, 2007

• #5

But that's how the likes of GM or BL were formed. And they didn't turned out well.

Holy mother of mercy, Daimler and BMW. After Deutsche Bank tried for 3 decades to merge these 2 and create the german "champion".

 

Zafiro

Supreme Roadmaster

Messages

30,811

• Jun 11, 2007

• #6

AMG-M performance car, I wonder how that would be.

 

SDNR

Kraftwagen König

Messages

10,192

• Jun 11, 2007

• #7

far2000 said:

lOOKS VERRRY INTERESTING, IMAGINE A CAR WITH MERC STYLING AND POWER WITH BMW HANDLING!!!!!! THATS WAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF!!!

Click to expand...

Ahem -- Mercedes could learn a lot more from BMW about styling than the other way around. BMWs design team have little to gain from Mercedes IMO, BMW are the design leaders in the industry right now. This makes me wonder more about the stability of Daimler than anything else. BMW does not need Mercedes -- Mercedes has more to gain from this association.

 

EnI

Piston Pioneer

Messages

14,074

• Jun 11, 2007

• #8

Mind that - if / when it happens - operative business will remain INDEPENDENT!!!!

Common points will be: purchasing of raw materials & parts, some financing (bank loans), R&D of hi-tech (eg. electronics, new more efficient drivetrains, new materials, ...), common factories in third countries ...

No platform sharing between Groups etc ... No brand engineering! No common dealerships etc.

Yet mind this an idea only, a proposal ... And I doubt it will happen soon. Perhaps if being forced to do it - sometimes in the future.

Right now I can only see some possible technical cooperations (drivetrain subsystems, electronics, etc), nothing more!

Do not start daydreaming!

 

SDNR

Kraftwagen König

Messages

10,192

• Jun 11, 2007

• #9

Ahh great, thanks for clarifying this EnI.

It makes much more sense now. However, I would not be at all surprised if in the future Porsche/VW owned Daimler -- it just doesn't seem at all far fetched anymore.

 

cawimmer430

Piston Pioneer

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14,807

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Christian Alexander Wimmer

• Jun 11, 2007

• #10

How can be BMW be considered "design leaders" if design is often a question of individual tastes?

BMW has adopted a sort of radical styling theme while Mercedes has still for the most part stayed true to a slow and gradual change in design evolution.

 

EnI

Piston Pioneer

Messages

14,074

• Jun 11, 2007

• #11

cawimmer430 said:

How can be BMW be considered "design leaders" if design is often a question of individual tastes?

Click to expand...

Ask the designer community. They'll tell you why.

BMW as design leader is not only seen through the BMW Groups products (automobiles & bikes), yet also through the things design by BMW DesignWorksUSA studio, design events (incl. workshops, debates, etc) done or sponsored by BMW, by the role the design has within the company etc.

Design leaders by being extremely design conscious ... by placing design as a value & one of the core priorities within a company.

That's why ...

 

cawimmer430

Piston Pioneer

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14,807

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Christian Alexander Wimmer

• Jun 11, 2007

• #12

Point taken.

 

Yperion

Cornering Kingpin

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9,256

Name

Yannis

• Jun 11, 2007

• #13

far2000 said:

lOOKS VERRRY INTERESTING, IMAGINE A CAR WITH MERC STYLING AND POWER WITH BMW HANDLING!!!!!! THATS WAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF!!!

Click to expand...

A car maker with great styling , power and handling already exists:

It's called AUDI.

 

D

Deleted member 25

Guest

• Jun 11, 2007

• #14

Maybe because BMW has inspired a large part of the entire automotive industry ?

 

Yperion

Cornering Kingpin

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9,256

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Yannis

• Jun 11, 2007

• #15

cawimmer430 said:

How can be BMW be considered "design leaders" if design is often a question of individual tastes?

BMW has adopted a sort of radical styling theme while Mercedes has still for the most part stayed true to a slow and gradual change in design evolution.

Click to expand...

IMO BMW is a design leader and so is Mercedes , Audi and VW.

Evey firm has it's own approach to what a well designed car must look like.

 

Centurion

Drivetrain Demi-God

Subscriber

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36,129

• Jun 11, 2007

• #16

Partnership will probably in areas like decreasing emissions and the use of more environmental friendly materials.

 

Merc1

Ultimate Gearhead Guru

Premium

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40,904

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Marcus

• Jun 11, 2007

• #17

Rob said:

Ahem -- Mercedes could learn a lot more from BMW about styling than the other way around. BMWs design team have little to gain from Mercedes IMO, BMW are the design leaders in the industry right now. This makes me wonder more about the stability of Daimler than anything else. BMW does not need Mercedes -- Mercedes has more to gain from this association.

Click to expand...

Rob I don't see how you can say this. Being a design leader with the "community" is one thing, but having to explain why a car looks the way it doesn't is another. BMW design might be more cutting edge or whatever, but it sure isn't anything pretty or beautiful to look at, with maybe 2 exceptions; the 3-Series coupe and the 6-Series cabrio. Audi and Mercedes have far better looking lineups IMO.

M

 

M

mrkc77

Turbo Tüftler

Messages

230

• Jun 11, 2007

• #18

Rob said:

Ahem -- Mercedes could learn a lot more from BMW about styling than the other way around. BMWs design team have little to gain from Mercedes IMO, BMW are the design leaders in the industry right now. This makes me wonder more about the stability of Daimler than anything else. BMW does not need Mercedes -- Mercedes has more to gain from this association.

Click to expand...

I thought it was BMW who wants to "intensify its cooperation" with MB.

BMW does not need Mercedes?? And you know that by....?? Don't know whether you've read the clip correctly but:

"Cooperation is a good approach," said Michael Ganal, BMW sales and marketing chief, as it allows "each group its freedom," he told Wirtschaftswoche in an article to be published on Monday.
"The two brands are in the luxury segment, they are both high-tech, they are both independent but they are not the biggest car makers," he said.

This came from a BMW exeutive, not a MB executive. If anything, its a get together between rival car companies sharing thoughts which is a good thing.

Granted, BMW does make some nice cars but they are not perfect and I say the same for MB as well.

Sometimes Rob, it really is not the case of being who's better than the other.

 

M

mrkc77

Turbo Tüftler

Messages

230

• Jun 11, 2007

• #19

Merc1 said:

Rob I don't see how you can say this. Being a design leader with the "community" is one thing, but having to explain why a car looks the way it doesn't is another. BMW design might be more cutting edge or whatever, but it sure isn't anything pretty or beautiful to look at, with maybe 2 exceptions; the 3-Series coupe and the 6-Series cabrio. Audi and Mercedes have far better looking lineups IMO.

M

Click to expand...

Hit the nail right on that head with this post.

 

Zafiro

Supreme Roadmaster

Messages

30,811

• Jun 11, 2007

• #20

BMW has the coolest line-up. Brave, bold, in-your-face and attitude design therefore they rule
BMW has goodies like 1er, 3er, 5er and Z4.