BMW And GM In Cooperation Talks, Says BMW Chairman
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Just after General Motors found a French bed-mate in PSA Peugeot-Citröen, it’s looking for some more foreign action, this time with a German. At least, that’s what BMW chairman Norbert Reithofer admitted to the press.
“There are talks with GM,” stated Reithofer, but wouldn’t say anything more. Coincidentally, BMW and Peugeot also have their own thing going on involving joint engine and electric development as GM and Peugeot have a global platform-sharing strategy in the works. Is there a possible ménage à trois between the French, German and American companies? We’ll leave you to fantasize.
When bringing up BMW, we must also mention that its electric vehicle programs are currently being overseen by Frank Weber, the man who lead the Chevy Volt/Opel Ampera project. Weber was essentially poached by BMW from GM and has been developing vehicles such as the upcoming BMW i3, i8 and limited-run ActiveE 1-Series.
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The plot thickens….
This is the kind of partnerships Im talking about, a profitable company that makes better products than GM(at least in some segments) not with companies that another economic crisis could sent to the death bed, like Fiat and PSA.
I strongly dislike major executives who jump around companies, at the level Weber was at, head of an industry first product, jumping around should have been banned in the contract. I know executives are not allowed to talk about future products even after they leave, but whats to stop them from developing a competitor to the products there not supposed to talk about. Doesnt the i3 compete directly with the Cadillac ELR?
With all of the interest in Europe lately, you can’t help but wonder if GM wants to form alliances with other makers in hopes of severing their ties with Opel.
@Ray Smith: It’s possible, as it wasn’t that long ago that GM explored unloading Opel during the midst of the American automobile industry crisis. My guess is that Opel could become a division of either PSA or BMW in the long run, and GM wants to broker a deal that will continue to allow Opel to provide models for Buick even as part of a separate company.
I have only been around only a few beemers and every one of them had problems unlike 100% of all Chevys I have had. I wouldn’t want any vehicle GM shared with Beemer. I am not enthusiatic about this. Plus there is this, what’s the difference between a beemer and a porcupine, with the beemer, all the pricks are on the inside….LOL I drove a Puegeot 505STI turbo diesel during the early and mid 80s. It wasn’t fast but it got almost 50mpg and was a nice car. Trouble free unless it got so cold that the diesel froze…… If GM got a little Euro. diesel, low emissions tech from Peugeot it may be a good deal.
I am right there with you, buddy. I categorically refuse to support any merger between BMW and GM. I also categorically denounce any product of their collaboration.
A few points:
1. “Cooperation Talks” does not mean a merger. It means working jointly on developing a technology or product.
2. Im with you and John that BMWs have a ton of annoying expenesive problems, especially with the interior and electrical. However, they make some damn good engines and their handling, even on large suvs like the x5, is excellant. Which would you rather drive, a first gen srx or a first gen x5?
3. How can you denounce a product that you absolutely know idea of. At this point, saying that a product of GM and BMW is good or bad is absolutely meaningless. We just dont know enough to make that assumption.
4. The best way to measure way if a company makes to good products to see whether they have long term, consistent, sustained, and growing profit. Last I checked BMW does, PSA does not. John, I have absolutely no experiance with PSA or European cars, however, if their products really were that good, I doubt they would be on the edge of bankruptcy right now.
Not that I dislike this, but would that mean the ATS will now take on the C Class and/or A4?
To my knowledge the ATS direct competitor is the BMW 3 series, Audi A4 ,Mercedes C-Class and you can throw the Infiniti G37 and the Lexus IS into the mix ……
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