Daimler/Renault-Nissan Wedding: Batteries Not Included

When people get married, they normally follow it up with a honeymoon and (at least traditionally) the consummation of said marriage. So, when Daimler and Renault-Nissan got hitched, how do you think they’d celebrate their first year of marriage? Build a car a together? Announce a joint venture factory? Start sharing dealerships? No. They had an argument. Just like your old polyamorous married couple.

Automobile Mag reports that when they signed their alliance agreement, certain things were part of that agreement, exchange of platforms, sharing parts, that sort of things. But what wasn’t part of that agreement were batteries for electric and hybrid cars. And because both Daimler and Renault-Nissan have invested a lot of time and money into their respective batteries, neither seems to want to give theirs up. Daimler has invested at least €200m into a partnership with Evonik to produce a Lithium-Ion battery and have started work on a new factory near Dresden, Germany.. Renault-Nissan, on the other hand, has formed a joint venture with NEC, called “ Automotive Energy Supply Corporation.” They are starting to tool up factories in France, Portugal, Japan, the United States and The UK.

Renault-Nissan CEO said “We are obviously going to do everything in order for our battery to be considered the best,” He then went on to say that he doubts Daimler will find a better battery to buy on the market. Oh snap!

Daimler CEO, Dieter Zetsche wasn’t taking this lying down by firing back saying “We have the production know-how and the financial muscle to secure a long term competitive position” Oh no, he didn’t!

Domestic violence! Batteried wife syndrome!

Anil Valsan, a director of automotive research at Frost And Sullivan reckons that although Daimler’s battery may have a “technical edge”, Renault-Nissan’s battery will win out because it’ll be “more cost competitive”. Daimler having to adopt someone else’s technology? Are they not aware of the “Wossn’t iwented here” syndrome? Looks like this marriage is off to a good start, does anyone have Tom Papa’s number?