Daimler hopes to find other opportunities in which it can work with Tesla, which supplies "drive systems" for the B-class Electric Drive.
It may have been an October to forget for Tesla. The California-based electric-vehicle manufacturer faced near-constant media scrutiny over a pair of Model S sedans catching fire, which in turn fueled growing skepticism on Wall Street. As the calendar turns to November, Elon Musk's brand could use a bit of encouragement. Right on cue, the light at the end of the tunnel has arrived courtesy of shareholder Daimler. According to Reuters, Daimler CEO Bodo Uebber disclosed to reporters that, "I told my guys, go back to Tesla and look for other opportunities" to go work together. "We want to look for more cooperation," he said.
In May 2009, Daimler acquired nearly 10 percent of Tesla's shares; two months later, 40 percent of those shares were sold to an investment firm in Abu Dhabi. Back then, Daimler was interested in figuring out the battery technology developed by Tesla. Daimler executives were also impressed by the dynamism and personality of the American automaker's founder, Elon Musk.
The cooperation has been mutually beneficial. Tesla has profited massively from Daimler's expertise in engineering and developing cars, and the Germans gained access to Tesla's EV know-how, complementing Daimler's own research and development. The upcoming Mercedes-Benz B-class Electric Drive will be fitted with a "drive system" purchased from Tesla. The batteries are produced in the U.S. and shipped to Europe where the entire vehicle is assembled. With Tesla diversifying its operation some in readying the Model X crossover and an entry-level sedan that will target mainstream shoppers, there's potentially more opportunity for Tesla and Daimler to work together in the near future.
- Instrumented Test: 2013 Tesla Model S
- Tech Dept.: Tesla Across America—How Elon Musk is Building an EV Infrastructure
- First Drive: 2014 BMW i3
Currently, Daimler owns slightly more than four percent of Tesla. Far from cashing in after the electric marque's remarkable rise on the stock market, the Germans feel their support could be bolstered. "We could use more," Uebber said. The question is, at what price? As reported on CNN last week, Musk said that "the stock price that we have is more than we have any right to deserve."
from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com
Put the internet to work for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment