It’s been rumored for some time now that BMW is considering partnering with another automaker, and it appears that those rumors were well founded. BMW board member Friedrich Eichiner confirmed that the German automaker is considering selling engines and other components to other automakers.
When Automotive News asked Eichiner if BMW was considering selling its engines to the likes of General Motors, Daimler and Fiat, he responded by saying, “We are talking with those companies you mentioned.”
He continued by saying that BMW will make a decision on the issue by the end of the year.
Selling engines and other components is already part of BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer’s Number One strategic plan, which is intended to increase the company’s profitability.
It’s interesting to see that GM is on the short list for potential customers for BMW engines. It begs the question as to whether GM is interested in gaining access to BMW’s diesel passenger car technology, especially since GM really doesn’t have a unit ready for the U.S. market and BMW will soon begin selling several diesel models here. Such a collaboration would seem to make sense since it would save GM millions in r&d and production costs and the engines would be ready to go much sooner — helping with the newly minted CAFE regulations. However, BMW has yet to comments on which engines it would auction off.
BMW — the world’s largest luxury car maker — has already partnered with GM and Daimler on hybrid technology.
