BMW: We're Not Working With Tesla On Anything
Were you hoping BMW and Tesla would join forces for the future of electrification? Not so fast.
According to Wirtschafts Woche, a BMW representative stated the company will not be buying shares in the California-based automaker, nor offering much more than its carbon fiber technology, which BMW states is open to all comers. The Bavarians believe the only benefit from a relationship with Tesla would be in favor of the latter, claiming CEO Elon Musk would enjoy the PR from such a collaboration.
The statement comes on the heels of an interview by Der Spiegel with Musk, who proclaimed his company was in talks with BMW to “collaborate on battery technology or charging stations,” something that was news to BMW. The automaker also has no interest in working on a battery factory with Tesla, stating such things can be purchased from its suppliers. Musk said he had plans to build a factory in Germany within five to six years.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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Nice house and cars.
The only reason they have that "we are in talk with BMW" BS is to prop up the stock price while Toyota and Mercedes were unloading shares.
When Tesla motors started over 10 years ago the car industry didn't have a very clear sense of direction in regard of EV's and Elon Musk was, by default, the prodigy new boy in town. He personified the forward thinking of the Silicon Valley, and at the time when most EV's looked just like golf carts that nobody wanted to buy Musk came up with the Lotus Elise looking Tesla Roadster and rightly took every body's breath away. But today the world of the EV's is a completely different place and now add to that the way the super hybrid cars are leading the way in a manner that Tesla won't be able to follow. Look at what just $135 000 can buy you today, the BMW i8. And this is just the beginning. The big players took there time to jump in but now that they have they will use all their formidable muscle to develop alternative fuel cars and Tesla will find it increasingly difficult to fight the heavy weights of the car industry. The problems that Tesla has so far managed to overcome in the last 10 years are nothing compere with what it will face as the big players vision on EV's, hybrids and et al gets more and more defined. In my "humble" opinion (does any body has a humble opinion in this site?!?!) the prognosis for Tesla problems in the next ten years will be: hasta la vista baby.
Don't mess with the Germans - you will likely get burned. /rimshot