EnI
Piston Pioneer
Mercedes seeks development partner for A, B class
By JASON STEIN | HARALD HAMPRECHT | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
AutoWeek | Published
10/16/06, 7:45 am et
PARIS -- Mercedes-Benz is looking for a partner to share engineering and manufacturing costs for its next-generation A- and B-class cars.
Mercedes is expected to replace the A class in 2011 and the B class a year later. Getting a partner for the two models could help Mercedes cut costs.
"We have to accept that Mercedes alone will not achieve volumes some of our global competitors have," said Thomas Weber, DaimlerChrysler board member for r&d. "We are thinking about our strategy for the next generation of these cars."
Weber, interviewed at the Paris auto show, would not identify possible partners. But PSA/Peugeot-Citroen is considered a potential candidate, two Mercedes sources say. PSA already has a joint venture with Mercedes rival BMW to build gasoline engines for BMW's Mini and for PSA's small cars.
"We talk with everybody about everything. We do not have a final project with Mercedes, though," said Gilles Michel, PSA's board member responsible for platforms, technology development and purchasing.
The second-generation A class went on sale in Europe in late 2004. The first-generation B class followed in the summer of 2005. Mercedes typically replaces vehicles after seven years.
Both cars share a costly and complicated "sandwich" platform that consists of a top and bottom cover with expensive reinforcements in the middle. A basic vehicle usually is cheaper because it consists of one sheet of metal.
The platform will not be used for the next generation of the products because it would mean the A and B class could not share engines or components with other Mercedes and Chrysler group cars.
"It's all about cost in this extremely competitive segment. The result will be a true Mercedes," said one high-level Mercedes source who requested anonymity. "Customers won't spot any difference and will not care whether components are shared with Chrysler or a French company."
Weber said sharing will be an important part of the Mercedes profit model in the years to come.
"One of many questions we need to answer for our future product portfolio in the (A- and B-class segment) is the question about competitiveness and production volumes," Weber said. "The same is true for Chrysler, where we are also striving to increase volume.
"A possible answer may be found in shared components and in an intensive discussion about the right engines and transmissions for cars of both brands."
DaimlerChrysler also is looking for a partner for a Dodge small car for the United States. Chery Automotive of China is a contender.
Source: AutoWeek
By JASON STEIN | HARALD HAMPRECHT | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
AutoWeek | Published
10/16/06, 7:45 am et
PARIS -- Mercedes-Benz is looking for a partner to share engineering and manufacturing costs for its next-generation A- and B-class cars.
Mercedes is expected to replace the A class in 2011 and the B class a year later. Getting a partner for the two models could help Mercedes cut costs.
"We have to accept that Mercedes alone will not achieve volumes some of our global competitors have," said Thomas Weber, DaimlerChrysler board member for r&d. "We are thinking about our strategy for the next generation of these cars."
Weber, interviewed at the Paris auto show, would not identify possible partners. But PSA/Peugeot-Citroen is considered a potential candidate, two Mercedes sources say. PSA already has a joint venture with Mercedes rival BMW to build gasoline engines for BMW's Mini and for PSA's small cars.
"We talk with everybody about everything. We do not have a final project with Mercedes, though," said Gilles Michel, PSA's board member responsible for platforms, technology development and purchasing.
The second-generation A class went on sale in Europe in late 2004. The first-generation B class followed in the summer of 2005. Mercedes typically replaces vehicles after seven years.
Both cars share a costly and complicated "sandwich" platform that consists of a top and bottom cover with expensive reinforcements in the middle. A basic vehicle usually is cheaper because it consists of one sheet of metal.
The platform will not be used for the next generation of the products because it would mean the A and B class could not share engines or components with other Mercedes and Chrysler group cars.
"It's all about cost in this extremely competitive segment. The result will be a true Mercedes," said one high-level Mercedes source who requested anonymity. "Customers won't spot any difference and will not care whether components are shared with Chrysler or a French company."
Weber said sharing will be an important part of the Mercedes profit model in the years to come.
"One of many questions we need to answer for our future product portfolio in the (A- and B-class segment) is the question about competitiveness and production volumes," Weber said. "The same is true for Chrysler, where we are also striving to increase volume.
"A possible answer may be found in shared components and in an intensive discussion about the right engines and transmissions for cars of both brands."
DaimlerChrysler also is looking for a partner for a Dodge small car for the United States. Chery Automotive of China is a contender.
Source: AutoWeek
