| We've always known Mercedes-Benz and BMW to | | | | Unfortunately for Draeger and Ganal though, |
| be the arch-rivals in the uber-car market | | | | Mercedes-Benz has earlier rejected a prior |
| department; in fact most of us prefer these | | | | proposal from BMW that the two luxury |
| two great European automakers locked in a | | | | carmakers should work more closely in the |
| perpetual battle as to who comes up with the | | | | future, as revealed by Mercedes marketing |
| most luxurious car, the smoothest | | | | Chieft Klaus Maier. |
| performance, the neatest in-car gadgets, or | | | | |
| the best auto parts from the engine down to | | | | Maier, in an interview with Handelsblatt, |
| the Mercedes or BMW camshafts. | | | | acknowledged that the two had worked together |
| | | | in the past, commenting "we cooperate |
| But it looks like in the ever-changing car | | | | naturally with BMW in a few technical areas, |
| industry no rivalries are really sacred. | | | | like development of hybrid engines." The |
| | | | consensus in the Mercedes boardroom however, |
| BMW has recently expressed hope to join | | | | is that there are no plans to work together |
| forces with DaimlerChrysler and the PSA | | | | beyond the current co-development of hybrid |
| Peugeot Citroen Group in the development of a | | | | drivetrains. |
| hybrid technology, as well as for a new | | | | |
| transmission and engine technology. | | | | There are rumors though suggesting that |
| | | | Mercedes may work with BMW for the production |
| BMW Exec Klaus Draeger, in an interview with | | | | of the next-generation A-Class on the Mini |
| Auto Motor und Sport, revealed that component | | | | platform from Beemer's Oxford factory. |
| sharing between the three carmakers would not | | | | |
| be impossible within the next four years. He | | | | Reuters, citing German motor magazine Auto |
| however, discounted plans for common | | | | Bild, is reporting that BMW, the world's |
| platforms. | | | | largest premium carmaker, and its closest |
| | | | rival, Mercedes-Benz, are currently in |
| With PSA, Draeger hopes to see further | | | | negotiations over a partnership to build |
| cooperation in engine development, referring | | | | subcompact cars. |
| to the deal it shared for the new Mini engine | | | | |
| as an example of the success that could be | | | | According to the report, the two companies |
| achieved. According to Draeger, technology | | | | are expected to make a decision in July on |
| sharing can be done without compromising | | | | whether to build the next generation Mercedes |
| brand-specific characteristics of the | | | | A-Class on BMW's Mini platform. |
| engines. | | | | |
| | | | A partnership with another automaker will |
| BMW's Marketing Chief, Michael Ganal has also | | | | benefit BMW since the heavy cost pressure |
| confirmed BMW's interest in working with | | | | could result in the loss of money for Mini |
| Mercedes-Benz. "Cooperation is the right | | | | should its Oxford, England, plant not run at |
| approach because it allows both carmakers | | | | full capacity. |
| entrepreneurial freedom," Ganal reportedly | | | | |
| told German newspaper Wirtschaftswoche. | | | | Meanwhile, Mercedes has plans of building the |
| | | | next A-Class in 2012 on a platform to be |
| Ganal did not say in which areas the | | | | developed jointly with Chrysler. These plans |
| cooperation between the two companies will | | | | however have been sacked after parent |
| increase, but said there are several | | | | DaimlerChrysler's disposal of its majority |
| possibilities. | | | | stake in the money-losing U.S. carmaker. |
| | | | |