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ReprintsD/C and BMW not talking about cooperation for A-class successor, top executive says
Dale Jewett
Automotive News Europe
July 7, 2007 23:27 CET
LONDON -- DaimlerChrysler and BMW are not cooperating on sharing a platform for a small car, a top D/C executive said Friday, July 6. "There have been no discussions with BMW on sharing platforms. Although I would never say no," Thomas Weber, D/C's head of research and development, told Automotive News Europe. He spoke at a media event here to demonstrate future hybrid and electric powertrains for Smart cars. Weber was responding to a question about a report in German motor magazine Auto Bild that BMW and D/C's Mercedes-Benz division could build the next generation Mercedes A-Class on BMW's Mini platform The two companies are expected to make a decision this month, Auto Bild said in its Friday, July 6, edition without citing sources. Heavy cost pressure means Mini runs the risk of losing money should its Oxford, England, plant not run at full capacity, so parent BMW is considering finding a partner. Mercedes for its part planned on building the next A class in 2012 on a platform to be developed jointly with Chrysler, but these plans have been dropped after parent D/C's disposal of its majority stake in the loss-making U.S. carmaker. You may e-mail Dale Jewett at djewett@crain.com |
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