Daimler Looking at Alliance with Renault/Nissan to Increase Electric Car Capabilities!

Daimler is actively seeking  to become the  leader in zero emmision, sustainable mobility.  In 2009, Daimler bought a 10% stake in Tesla Motors, the only production automaker selling a highway capable electric vehicle in North America and Europe.  The two companies had already been working closely to integrate Tesla’s lithium-ion battery packs and charging electronics into the first 1,000 units of Daimler’s electric smart car. In order to benefit from each other’s know-how, the investment enabled the partners to collaborate even more closely on the development of battery systems, electric drive systems and in individual vehicle projects.

 On March 1st  of this year, Daimler AG signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BYD Company Limited to enter into a comprehensive technology partnership for the development of electric vehicles for China.  Under the agreement, Daimler and BYD intend to develop a new electric vehicle specific to the requirements of the Chinese market. The vehicle will be marketed under a new brand jointly created and owned by Daimler and BYD. In addition, a common technology center will be established in China to develop, design and test this electric vehicle.  It should be mentioned that Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffet’s firm, owns a stake in BYD.

Yesterday, media reports that the Renault/Nissan and Daimler  were in talks to form a strategic alliance resulted in increased stock prices and no denials from the companies themselves. Yoshihiko Tabei, chief analyst at Kazaka Securities said “The alliance with Daimler could lead to Nissan supplying its electric cars to the German automaker. If that happens, it would boost Nissan’s EV car business while it is in an early stage”.

Daimler, who had made large investments in hydrogen fuel cell technology for many years, is clearly positioning itself to produce electric vehicles as fuel cell technology stumbles in its efforts to become viable for mass marketed personal transportation.

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Posted by admin on Mar 17 2010. Filed under BYD, Daimler, Nissan, Renault-Nissan, Tesla Motors. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry