Old Enemies BMW And Mercedes Could Build Cars Together

Two of Germany’s biggest car makers are exploring options for shared platforms to cut costs and free up cash for autonomous car tech
Old Enemies BMW And Mercedes Could Build Cars Together

Age-old rivals BMW and Daimler, owner of the Mercedes-Benz and Smart brands, are reportedly considering building cars together.

A report in German newspaper Handelsblatt says the cost-saving move would see Mercedes’ and BMW’s compact cars in the A-Class and 1-Series lines all built on the same platform. It could potentially include the larger Mini models, too, as they will soon share a chassis with the 1-Series.

Old Enemies BMW And Mercedes Could Build Cars Together

Such a move would free up billions in investment capital to pour into self-driving cars and future mobility concepts to cover as many potential outcomes as possible while the industry remains in a state of massive flux, undecided on its course.

This new development comes just a month after the two brands announced a joint venture to accelerate the growth of digital mobility services in order to stave off the likes of Waymo. Actually building cars together, though, is an unprecedented step and one that illustrates how seriously the traditional European car giants are taking the mainly US-led rise of tech companies into the automotive arena.

Old Enemies BMW And Mercedes Could Build Cars Together

The Handelsblatt report quotes a consultant at Horvath & Partners, Dietmar Voggenreiter, as saying that the golden goose is being among the first to establish a reliable platform to operate autonomous vehicles across a country, and that both BMW and Daimler would rather work together than allow foreign firms an open goal in Europe. He said (via translation):

“Those who are the first to dominate autonomous driving, who are the first to offer a functioning autonomous taxi fleet, occupy a huge market. In the US, Waymo and Uber are hard to beat as platform operators, but in Europe, roles are not yet dispersed.”

Old Enemies BMW And Mercedes Could Build Cars Together

No platform-sharing arrangement for the 1-Series and A-Class could come into being before 2025, reports the newspaper, owing to the current models’ long remaining life cycles, but it could be a good fit. Many years of research, development and testing are necessary to overcome the complex challenges presented by urban automation.

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Comments

Anonymous

[DELETED]

01/22/2019 - 15:03 |
4 | 30
UnknownCat13

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I feel sorry for you if you actually think this is funny.

01/22/2019 - 16:29 |
8 | 0
Gianluca 1

wow

01/22/2019 - 15:03 |
2 | 0
GTRTURTLE 🔰 🐢(Oo \ S K Y L I N E / oO) (Koen

So, we will have BIG GRILLES and downsizing? Now this is going to be interesting

01/22/2019 - 15:03 |
36 | 0

begs the question. why do you make the grill bigger when you are making the engine smaller

01/23/2019 - 01:13 |
6 | 0
☆★THEBOOSTEDBRIT★☆

Audi be like:

01/22/2019 - 15:05 |
84 | 0

Audi is going to collaborate with Hyundai… it’s official since june 2018. Sorry for your dream

01/22/2019 - 16:40 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

If this means cheaper but reliable cars I am ok with it.

01/22/2019 - 15:11 |
0 | 0
ATOGI_28

First the supra now merc?
Before we know it all cars will be based on a BMW

01/22/2019 - 15:23 |
42 | 2
Chewbacca_buddy (McLaren squad)(VW GTI Clubsport)(McLaren 60

In reply to by ATOGI_28

And?

01/22/2019 - 19:48 |
8 | 4
Anonymous

Teaming up again? I mean as long as it isn’t for the same reasons they worked together in 1940s

01/22/2019 - 15:27 |
162 | 0
Chewbacca_buddy (McLaren squad)(VW GTI Clubsport)(McLaren 60

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

DAMN

01/22/2019 - 16:45 |
26 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Okay, this is epic

01/22/2019 - 17:30 |
22 | 0
captaind00m

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

4th reich intensifies

01/23/2019 - 01:12 |
14 | 0
Anonymous

tech is stupid

01/22/2019 - 16:31 |
6 | 12
click ok to ok

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

ok

01/22/2019 - 22:09 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

ok mr. DOHC

01/27/2019 - 19:18 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

This is like Trump and Putin making love together

01/22/2019 - 18:56 |
0 | 0
MrLeo

Make all the cars the same!

We won’t mind….

01/22/2019 - 19:56 |
0 | 0