BMW in talks with Merc

[SDNR]

Thanks Merc1.

This whole joint-venture thing is now making total sense. It out of necessity for both marques as they will both be penalized for excessive average fuel emissions. It is purely political -- both companies need to expand their small car ranges in order to get average emissions down (across their entire model ranges).

 

[RikfromBelgium]

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

[EnI]

Herr Reithofer (BMW CEO) said recently BMW would announce company's future strategy review (10-year plan) sometimes in Fall 2007 - definitely sometimes after IAA Frankfurt.

In that review all the following options will be discussed: eg. M & A options, cooperations / joint-ventures with other car manufacturers, new planned models for all BMW Group brands, new tech regarding lower CO2 emissions & fuel consuption (eg. hybrid tech), measurements to increase profitability & productivity, new planned production facilities, option on sellling BMW tech (eg. engines) to 3rd parties, etc.



Also as Dr. Draeger (BMW development chief) said BMW were developing a super-efficient FWD mini car (basically same size as MINI hatch), with room for 4 people. The car won't wear BMW badge for sure. The question is will it be sold under MINI badge, or under some new brand.

I really hope BMW will revive another brand they own: either Riley, or Triumph (perhaps even Isetta - if buying the name first). So they will avoid buying overpriced Volvo, or harm BMW and MINI brand with new odd models. BMW cars will be able stay strictly RWD platform, with 1er as entry model. While MINI will stay an iconic brand with evolving retro design (like eg. Porsche 911), adding some new models like eg. AWD cross-over, coupe / speedster.

Riley / Triumph can be something like eg. Toyota's Scion brand. Premium & funky, and with all the emphasis on ultra-low fuel consumption & CO2 emissions (eg. diesel hybrid tech, electric car, etc), and being more practical than MINI models yet definitely not as much sports oriented.

All Riley / Triumph models can be based on MINI FWD or joint-venture platforms, yet with much more dynamic & modern design than retro MINI - with several models in portfolio - not overlapping with MINI family: eg. micro city car (eg Smart & upcoming VW citycar fighter), small 5dr hatch / wagon (to fight A-class, A1 family, Alfa junior, Scion xA / xC / xD), small 4dr sedan.

 

[PanterroR]

Everything is good except this:

option on sellling BMW tech (eg. engines) to 3rd parties, etc.

I don't want that some jerks open their hood and brag how they drive a BMW!

 

[Tarek]

^Same here,BMW engines should be exclusive to it's lineup only!

 

[PanterroR]

^Same here,BMW engines should be exclusive to it's lineup only!

Damn right!

 

[Merc1]

I can't see BMW sharing an engine larger than 4-cylinders with anyone. Technology yes, but whole engines, I'd bet strongly against them doing that.

M

 

[PanterroR]

True. Sell the 4cyl models, i don't care! But I6 speaks BMW only and must remain so!

 

[SDNR]

I can't see BMW sharing an engine larger than 4-cylinders with anyone. Technology yes, but whole engines, I'd bet strongly against them doing that.

M

Well I'm certain they won't. This joint-venture is strictly about getting the average fuel emissions down -- it is all about getting around regulations.

 

[PanterroR]

BMW and Mercedes move towards closer co-operation
Posted on Monday 27 August 2007

Could two of the largest luxury automobile manufacturers in the world be sizing each other up for a possible union? According to an anonymous Mercedes exec, the idea isn’t as far fetched as it seems, stating that “finally we can cooperate with a company that is only two hours away from us, speaks the same language, and has the same target customer.”

BMW Marketing board member Michael Ganal told a German magazine that Mercedes would be a logical choice for a partnership with BMW as “both brands are in the luxury segment, both are dependent on high technology, [and] both are independent but not the largest manufacturers.”

Other BMW executives have been whispering about closer ties to Daimler, noting that “cooperating on engines and components,” as well as common purchasing would allow both manufacturers to cut costs, reports Automotive News. BMW and Mercedes are already developing hybrid technology together, and last month we also reported on rumors of Mercedes and BMW in negotiations to build a sub-compact car.

The current Daimler CEO did not rule out the opportunity of working with BMW, stating that Daimler “would welcome other opportunities” however only time will tell if the two German giants can actually play nice.

Source: Motor Authority » BMW and Mercedes move towards closer co-operation

 

[Merc1]

And the world sighs....

M

 

[Deutsch]

As long as MB doesn't prescribe to building cars like BMW, I don't mind the cooperation, however doubtful I am of this actually happening.

 

[Zafiro]

As long as MB doesn't prescribe to building cars like BMW, I don't mind the cooperation, however doubtful I am of this actually happening.

and I dont want BMW to build cars like Mercedes.

 

[EnI]

Flip-flop, flip-flop, ...


Daimler open to engine work with BMW

8 Sep 2007, 2114 hrs IST

,

REUTERS

FRANKFURT: DaimlerChrysler would be open to jointly developing a motor with rival BMW, Daimler's chief executive told a German magazine.

"I would not exclude such cooperation, if it makes sense for both sides," Dieter Zetsche told Der Spiegel magazine in an interview released in advance of publication on Monday.

Porsche's offroader Cayenne has been successful with its Volkswagen engine, Zetsche said. Daimler is talking to number of companies about joint projects but there have been no decisions, he said.

Zetsche said he was not in favour of a cross-shareholding between the two companies. The takeover of BMW by Daimler that nearly happened decades ago would not have been a good thing for either company, he said.

 

[vedjo01]

This is interesting news.I have a felling that MB would profit with this cooperation more than BMW .

 

[Benzboi_inoz]

Well, it makes good sense to me. Weakened by the loss of Rover, BMW could use some sharing of resources, and weakened by the loss/debacle of Chrysler, Mercedes could use some sharing of resources.

Especially as the worlds largest company by virtue of units sold, and the most profitable one again on profit per unit, grows ever larger, with inroads and strong ones at that, into the German luxury car global scene.

Toyota/Lexus is a strong rival indeed. They have enough cash in the bank to buy up whoever they want really - whether they will/would though is another matter.

A Mercedes with a BMW engine seems a good idea to me. I like BMW engines!

Best Regards

John..

 

[Bartek S.]

Daimler CEO open to engine deal with BMW
BMW makes some of the best engines in the business so it comes as little surprise the CEO of Daimler, Dieter Zetsche, is open to jointly developing new engines with the Munich-based rival. In a recent interview, Zetsche revealed that he would be open to a partnership if it made financial sense.
Speaking with Germany’s Der Spiegel, Zetsche referred to the Porsche Cayenne SUV and its success with using a Volkswagen engine. BMW is not the only carmaker on Daimler’s list of potential partners. According to the report, Daimler is already in talks with a number of other companies but no final decision has been made yet.
One thing Zetsche stressed was that he had no plans for a takeover or merger. We suspect he’s learnt his lesson from the failed dealings with Chrysler. Earlier reports suggested BMW was also keen to partner with Daimler as well, and there are rumors that a new SUV variant of the Mini could be co-developed with a similar off-road A-class.

 

[EnI]

Peugeot could have engine pact with BMW, Mercedes

Thu Sep 20, 2007 4:30am EDT
PARIS, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Europe's second-biggest volume car maker, PSA Peugeot Citroen , does not exclude partnering with both BMW ) and Mercedes to develop a new generation of petrol engines.
Chief executive Christian Streiff was asked by Germany's Die Zeit weekly newspaper whether such a cooperation was possible. "I won't exclude that," he told the paper's Thursday edition
A spokesman for PSA said that there were no ongoing talks.
PSA and BMW have a long-standing cooperation pact in petrol engines and BMW chief executive Norbert Reithofer told Reuters last week he was open to developing engines jointly with rival DaimlerChrysler.
Daimler chief executive Dieter Zetsche has made similar remarks.
"PSA Peugeot Citroen is the volume car maker with the largest number of cooperation pacts and Mr Streiff has said he wants to deepen the existing partnerships," the spokesman said.
"With BMW we have a specific and durable pact on petrol engines," he added.
PSA is "constantly working" on developing a new generation of petrol engine with lower fuel consumption and lower emissions of greenhouse gases, he added.
A new engine plant investment is usually of the size of $1 billion and a partnership can spread both the total costs and the cost per engine.




Source: Reuters

 

[far2000]

BMW opens door for Merc

BMW opens door for Merc

01/10/2007 11:55



Frankfurt - Germany luxury car maker BMW would welcome rival Daimler into a joint venture that makes small engines with the French group Peugeot, BMW boss Norbert Reithofer was quoted Monday as saying.
"If Daimler is interested, the door is open," Reithofer told the business daily Handelsblatt in an interview. "A third partner would allow us to make greater savings." Motors currently produced by the joint venture are used by BMW's Mini brand.
"In the future, the (BMW) series 1 will also be offered with a four-cylinder motors developed through our program with Peugeot," the German auto boss said.
Last week, BMW unveiled a strategic plan aimed at saving €6bn in five years, in part by cutting expensive research and development costs. Periodic cooperation with other automakers was one way the German company said it planned to save money.

 

[Tarek]

I really have mixed feeling about all this,don't know if i should be excited or not!