BMW Cozies-Up to Daimler
While its competitors were bought out (Volkswagen – Audi) or formed abortive alliances (Daimler – Benz), BMW has long been fiercely, proudly, publicly independent. So much for that, then. These days, The Boys from Bavaria are embracing global alliances, developing EVs with Magna, MINI engines with PSA, and sharing small car platforms with Fiat. Und now BMW is partnering with longtime nemesis Mercedes-Benz. Auto Motor und Sport (AM&S) reports that BMW and Daimler plans to share components across each other's car lines. BMW development boss Klaus Draeger says ja, it's a logical extension of BMW and Daimler's hydrogen fuel-cell technology development thingie (available never). At the mo, we're talking air conditioning units and brakes. Soon, it'll be hybrid technology and robot tanks [just kidding, I think]. With so much technology to share, so much brand image to protect and Daimler's history of stiffing Chrysler, this is promises to be a genuine disaster.
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GM and Ford seem to be making good use of their co-development project for 6-speed automatic transmissions. Done right, there is no reason BMW and Daimler shouldn't work together on various systems components, or simply buy they from a common supplier. Bosch, ATE and others already de-facto do component development and manufacturing for multiple manufacturers. I had babelfish make a crude translation of the original piece here: http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?doit=done&tt=url&intl=1&fr=bf-home&trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.auto-motor-und-sport.de%2Fnews%2Fwirtschaft_-_handel%2Fhxcms_article_513984_13987.hbs&lp=de_en&btnTrUrl=Translate Their translation refers to hybrid co-developments already under way.
I think this is a mistake. BMW regularly pronounces its independence. MB touts its exclusivity. And there is a healthy rivalry. Now they want to sell us a mishmash MB/BMW. I'm starting to conclude that cars really are just personal transportation appliances.
What do we care if they share some components? Is anybody really worried about the Hybrid collaboration with GM? Just because the X6 Hybrid was developed with GM doesn't mean that Bimmer has put out an Aztek. (Or have they?) What about the development with FlexRay, that fibre optic data bus thingee coming to all BMW's in the future? Behind the scenes joint development is always happening more than we think it is but manufacturers are selective about making the facts public. Does anybody think a BMW is any different because BMW have bought the BlueTec diesel technology from Mercedes?
I had an E46 with the "eye level wheel". Loved it. I friend of mine bought the car from me and drove it for four months in the summer with heat blasting out in spite of the A/C. I asked her what she thought the wheel was there for, and she told be that she never noticed it. BTW, never had a problem with the A/C in eight years. However, I always made the effort to operate it once a week, even in the winter, to lubricate the internal seals. Makes a difference but more people don't do this.