Tuesday 10th March 2009

BMW and Mercedes May Collaborate

Mini Mercs on the way?

---

BMW and Mercedes are set to follow-up their parts sharing plans with an equity swap that could see each company taking a 7 percent stake in its showroom rival.

The plan, yet to be officially confirmed, has been reported in the German media as being under consideration by both companies.

Discussions about the proposed equity swap are apparently ongoing and could lead to much deeper collaborations between the two brands in future. Reports suggest BMW and Mercedes are already talking about jointly developing a platform for future generations of the Mini and A- and B-classes, as well as shared front-drive powertrains.

The Quandt family, which still owns 46 percent of BMW, is said to be cautious over fears the move could be a stepping-stone towards Mercedes taking a controlling interest in the family firm.

The plan to share components (PH News 23^rd Oct) is already being implemented as a cost-saving measure. Both marques reported output down by nearly a quarter in February, and the once fiercely independent German companies seem to be sticking together to fight the credit crunch.

[louismchuge]

A shared FWD platform?? In a BMW???!!!! Oh dear

[FWDRacer]

I fear for the poor Poor Zod(s)

[MaestroDave]

louismchuge said:

A shared FWD platform?? In a BMW???!!!!

Mini!

[dvs_dave]

Rover 75!!!!!!! (Engineered by BMW)

[pSyCoSiS]

Makes sense to stick together in these times, but, I hope that each brand doesn't lose their unique characteristics through this....

[german tony]

dvs_dave said:

Rover 75!!!!!!! (Engineered by BMW)

According to the fellas I worked with it was more engineered by Rover & titted about with by people in Germany that didn't understand it.

For example, up to that point, nobody in BMW had considered making things by the Toyota method & it came as a surprise to them that Rover used that system & were not prepared to re-egineer their Oxford plant backwards (by about 20 years) to accomadate German philosophy.

As for Mec & Beemer holding hands on the sinking ship that is the German car industry - great idea, instead of 2 company with their sales down by 1/4 let's have 1 giant company with it's sales down by the same amount.

Or just let 1 company die & then the other can mop up whatever is left of the custom.

Or, better yet, sell it's badges to Toyota to stick on German market Lexuses & stop with the tedious business of building cars altogether.

It's not like any company can build cars in Germny without massive financial help from the Govt anyway. By dying they'd be doing the humble tax payer (me) a huge favour.

[king arthur]

Is anyone else scared that in a couple more decades, we'll just have one big car maker making more or less the same cars with different badges for different markets?

[BBS-LM]

louismchuge said:

A shared FWD platform?? In a BMW???!!!! Oh dear

Just what I was thinking, please no.

[va1o]

I reckon this could work quite well, as Mercedes have already said they want to ditch the expensive sandwich platform of the A/B Class for the new 2012 models, so working with BMW who will probably be looking to replace the MINI at same time could work well.

[clarencegi77]

king arthur said:

Is anyone else scared that in a couple more decades, we'll just have one big car maker making more or less the same cars with different badges for different markets?

If there's still different cars to choose from, ie, there's still coupes, and estates etc.. it can't really be that bad.. i mean, isin't that what the whole game is today? platform-sharing?

on a frightening note they could all be the same hybrids..

[DickyC]

Under greater threat is my favourite trite saying:

BMWs are bought by Mercedes owners for their sons.

[MattjK]

I guess the cost-cutting will offset some of the impact of the fact that the market for the Mini is more or less saturated, and is only being boosted by new drivers who want the image (God only knows why). But all this just turns me further and further away from new cars. I own a Eunos and I'm bloody proud that even though it's not a 'special' car (it is to me though, of course), it doesn't have parts off something from another brand. Parts sharing. PAH! The motoring public's acceptance of it is symptomatic of the wider acceptance of driving as something unremarkable and devoid of true passion. Sad times, and they're getting ever sadder.

Edited by MattjK on Tuesday 10th March 19:11

[Fume troll]

It's happened before. In the 50's the Quandt group owned 10% or so of Daimler-Benz, and 30% of BMW. The whole of BMW was nearly sold to Daimler Benz in the late 50's. Quandts stake in Benz was eventually sold to the government of Kuwait in the 70's.

Cheers,

FT.

[E21_Ross]

MattjK said:

I guess the cost-cutting will offset some of the impact of the fact that the market for the Mini is more or less saturated, and is only being boosted by new drivers who want the image (God only knows why). But all this just turns me further and further away from new cars. I own a Eunos and I'm bloody proud that even though it's not a 'special' car (it is to me though, of course), it doesn't have parts off something from another brand. Parts sharing. PAH! The motoring public's acceptance of it is symptomatic of the wider acceptance of driving as something unremarkable and devoid of true passion. Sad times, and they're getting ever sadder.

Edited by MattjK on Tuesday 10th March 19:11

how so? they are very similarly priced and certainly today they are better built than mercedes. they are a much more sporty manufacturer too. i have heard that saying before, but didn't think anyone was silly enough to actually believe it. I would take a new M3 over just about any merc.

[190E Matt]

Fume troll said:

It's happened before. In the 50's the Quandt group owned 10% or so of Daimler-Benz, and 30% of BMW. The whole of BMW was nearly sold to Daimler Benz in the late 50's. Quandts stake in Benz was eventually sold to the government of Kuwait in the 70's.

Cheers,

FT.

Fume Troll is alive!! Where have you been?!

[munk]

MattjK said:

I own a Eunos and I'm bloody proud that even though it's not a 'special' car (it is to me though, of course), it doesn't have parts off something from another brand.

Granted; however it does have a design that was neatly nicked from an aging lotus... Glass houses? Stones?

[Fume troll]

190E Matt said:

Fume Troll is alive!! Where have you been?!

I Norge. Still am!

Cheers,

FT.

[Zod]

DickyC said:

Under greater threat is my favourite trite saying:

BMWs are bought by Mercedes owners for their sons.

I've always liked that one: it emphasises that Mercs are cars for old men.