“Daimler’s chief executive said ‘different types’ of cooperation with Apple and Google are possible as carmakers realize next-generation autos cannot be built without greater input from telecoms and software experts,” Andreas Cremer reports for Reuters.
“‘Many things are conceivable,’ Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said in an interview with quarterly magazine Deutsche Unternehmerboerse published on Friday,” Cremer reports. “His comments echoed those of German rival Volkswagen, whose chief executive Martin Winterkorn has urged collaboration with technology firms to make future cars safer and more intelligent.”
“One option could be for Daimler to build cars as part of a joint venture by using the digital expertise of its U.S. partners, Zetsche said, but added that his comments were ‘purely theoretical,'” Cremer reports. “Zetsche said Daimler would not allow itself to be demoted to the role of dumb supplier, simply producing cars for the Silicon Valley giants.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: At this point, it’s smart to keep all options open.
Collaboration with Mercedes–now we’re talking!
Why? Mercedes makes competent but boring cars. They are rarely any fun to drive and seem to be bought as status symbols by the Toyota Camry set who have a bit more cash. BMW on the other hand has partnered with Apple for a long time, and produces cars just a competent as Mercs, but which are actually fun to drive as well.
Jeremy Clarkson… is that you?
Not sure Apple wants to encumber itself with legacy automotive deadweight that is trying to sell ICE vehicles alongside BEV. Better to follow Teslas lead and break the whole paradigm of automobile design and distribution. If Apple is going into the auto business, of course.
Tesla today is unprofitable, the German companies however are not and are in it for the long haul. I would suggest however they learn how to build a OS of some type in the next 10 years..
It will take more for the legacy auto industry to embrace BEVs than a little software. JB Straubel, Teslas CTO, gave a talk where he explained the difference between car makers and Tesla. The whole talk is interesting, but the point I’m referencing starts at minute 17:00 and runs for about 3 minutes.
Then there is the whole supply chain difference between the legacy auto industry and Tesla. Tesla essentially builds each car to order for the end user, just like Apple could build every product from iPod up to order. No filling up a bunch of dealer lots with a range of product they think they might sell, with the right deal. Every Tesla, built to order, sells at full retail price, same price for everyone. Apple should follow that model also.
Tesla is trying to break the paradigm. Unfortunately, the “free enterprise” politicians in Texas still maintain that Tesla must have dealerships in Texas if it wants to sell cars in Texas – an old law that is inconsistent with the approach for nearly every other consumer product in this country.
Follow the money. That old saying works for both political parties. Neither one is looking out for the people.
The “free market capitalists” in Texas will have more of a problem than Tesla. http://www.teslamotors.com/support/referral-program?elq=4c8f5765b4bf49aabd10b02c1e2b9989&elqCampaignId=4334&elqaid=4957&elqat=1&elqTrackId=b7cddc40f88b4cf781d0125a9f238c1b
Once someone has driven a Tesla, it’s hard to dissuade them from getting one. A lot of politicians leave office because eventually enough people just vote “No”. This issue is a little too visible to hide from the public and the wrong side is pretty clear.
Joining forces to develop and manufacture a next generation vehicle also spreads out liability.
I like the “Smart” pun in MDN’s take…
Is MDN “smart” referring to the MB Smart Car? That tiny little golf cart could be computerized and electrified, the iSmart?
I think MDN wasn’t. But Daimler does own Smart.