Mercedes and BMW, enemies of yesterday, partners of tomorrow?

Apple and Microsoft in 1997. However, Samsung and Sony in 2004. Furthermore, Or Coca-Cola and Pepsi in 2009. However, When the enemies of always get closer, it’s always weird. For example, And soon they are two German automobile giants which would be about to shake hands. Furthermore, According to Manager Magazin, discussions between BMW and Mercedes have been lasting almost nine months already. Meanwhile, How do these two which in turn take the place of N ° 1 of the premium in the. In addition, world can happen to get along? Meanwhile, And what? It would seem that in a world filled with electrification challenge and customs duties, mercedes bmw, enemies yesterday, partners the Union is strength. And The rapprochement. for which a decision would be expected within two months, according to industrial sources, would be beneficial to the two.

A necessity for Mercedes, a boon for BMW – Mercedes bmw, enemies yesterday, partners

Ola Källenius. boss of Mercedes who would have had the idea Use the BMW four-cylinders in some Mercedes models, including rechargeable hybrid. Products in Steyr, Austria, these 2.0 -liter B48 blocks already equip a large part of the BMW range and are renowned for their technical flexibility. Mercedes, mercedes bmw, enemies yesterday, partners who had promised an almost total outing of the thermal by 2030 before retreating, today lacks motors adapted to hybridization. The Chinese blocks of Geely (co-developed with Renault). initially envisaged, that found in the new CLA, are problematic: not optimized for the PHEV and delicate to import into the United States due to political tensions. Result: Mercedes turns to his lifelong enemy. For BMW. the operation is doubly interesting: it guarantees a workload for the Steyr factory and could bring in several hundred million euros. It would also offer a significant image gain: see Mercedes roll with BMW engines, it is a form of consecration.

Towards a wider alliance?

This partnership would be only the beginning. The two groups would already discuss a possible joint production in the United States. to avoid customs dutiesand even cooperation on transmissions. But nothing is acted yet, especially because BMW has a strategic relationship with mercedes bmw, enemies yesterday, partners the supplier ZF. At any rate. This “Motorenpakt” would be a historic first: the two brands have never shared their mechanics on such a scale. And even if the bosses of the two brands share the same opinion on the programmed thermal stop. this most improbable rapprochement shows how much the industry is turned upside down by electricity as politics. Even if it means going beyond decades of rivalry on premium!