Daimler's Next Hybrids: Made By Toyota
If you want to offer hybrid cars, but don’t have the money / time / run rate / wherewithal to do it yourself, who’re gonna call? Toyota. But who would have imagined that haughty Daimler picked up the phone, dialed 0081, and said: “Let’s talk?” Daimler considers joining the growing list of automakers that source their hybrid systems from Toyota City. Toyota is in talks to provide technology and core components for hybrid vehicles to Daimler, after having been approached by the Germans, says The Nikkei [sub].
Toyota might sell Daimler motors and batteries, “in addition to technology.” The Nikkei further heard that “the automakers will also consider forming a broad alliance that would also cover cars powered by fuel cells.”
That’s probably a feel-good move to make Daimler engineers think they can bring parts to the party as well. And wasn’t Daimler in bed with China’s BYD for EV breeding purposes? Something that bugged Daimler’ Chinese joint venture partner BAIC? Or maybe the falling fortunes of BYD have prompted Daimler to look for a more dependable partner to electrify their cars?
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Maybe Honda should make the same choice. Oh wait, then they'd still have to surround the hybrid drivetrain with an interesting car.
Let's not forget that both Daimler and Toyota have a stake in Tesla.
I'd rather call the Ghostbusters.
Why is it that most every car company out there refuses to do their own homework anymore? Toyota, the Koreans, and Ford seem to be the only ones left who don't pay to crib, and even then there is quite a bit of overlap in makes. I guess this is just another sign of the times. We just can't have hugely exhorbitant corporate salaries and sound "in-house" engineering fundamentals at the same time. The more I think of how cheap these guys operate, the more it makes me want to get out of my car and walk.