After Daimler Chrysler ’s separation from the Chrysler brand, it appears the German company could be looking to partner with another automaker, this time from its home country. New reports suggest that Mercedes is exploring the possibility of partnering with in-country rival, BMW .
An anonymous Mercedes executive recently told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport magazine an alliance with BMW would be a “true marriage made in heaven.” He said it would be nice to “cooperate with a company that is only two hours away from us, speaks the same language, and has the same target customer.”
Meanwhile, BMW Marketing board member Michael Ganal was quoted in a recent interview, saying that Mercedes and BMW would be a logical match because “both brands are in the luxury segment, both are dependent on high technology, [and] both are independent but not the largest manufacturers,†according to Automotive News.
Mercedes and BMW are currently working together on developing hybrid technology. When asked about the possible union, Daimler’s CEO didn’t rule it out and said that Daimler “would welcome other opportunities.†Neither company has released an official statement on the subject, but don’t expect another Daimler merger — BMW and Mercedes target the same customers, making a close alliance very unlikely. Instead, watch for more shared technology.
