It was reported earlier this week, that Mercedes-Benz was thinking about killing the current A-Class, but now there are rumors that Mercedes may be thinking about building a 1-Series and A3 competitor. Additionally the automaker may be in talks with BMW about using the current MINI platform for the upcoming car.
According to Auto Bild the two automakers may be considering a future collaboration on subcompact cars. It is rumored that by the end of July the automakers will come to a final decision. Honda and PSA were also rumored to be potential partners for Mercedes.
Full Story: Autoblog
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Comments (10)
"Additionally the automaker may be in talks with BMW about using the current MINI platform for the upcoming car."
..........why? Why would BMW assist Mercedes in competing against BMW?
Posted by Remy LeBeau | July 5, 2007 8:30 PM
Posted on July 5, 2007 20:30
"..........why? Why would BMW assist Mercedes in competing against BMW?"
Because Mercedes will make an offer BMW cannot refuse. :)
Posted by Alex Greene | July 5, 2007 8:35 PM
Posted on July 5, 2007 20:35
How bizarre...
Posted by Obviously DaMinority | July 6, 2007 12:37 AM
Posted on July 6, 2007 00:37
Mercedes lost their minds after the Chrysler acquisition. They've been infected with American incompetence and have been surpassed by Hyundai. Sad, really.
Posted by booze | July 6, 2007 1:23 AM
Posted on July 6, 2007 01:23
Mercedes is still a powerhouse when it comes to designing vehicles. I do agree that the Chrysler deal will go in the annuls of all time poor business deals. Essentially, they paid Cerebus group to take Chrysler of their hands after paying several billion to acquire it in the first place.
BMW can extend the already profitable MINI model by offering the platform to other manufacturers. MINI has/will have a rabid following, and the costs are distributed among more players. BMW will have a win.win situation. Mercedes is looking for a relatively low cost approach to compete.
Posted by Matt | July 6, 2007 10:44 AM
Posted on July 6, 2007 10:44
"MINI has/will have a rabid following"
I don't think this is likely to extend to cars that are simply built on the MINI platform.
Posted by Lindsay | July 6, 2007 10:14 PM
Posted on July 6, 2007 22:14
Like in America, car companies or any company need to offer competitive equivalents’ in order not to be charged by the justice department on having a monopoly. MB has really gone down the tubes with their cars and BMW is still a privately owned car company with no one to answer to. Their MINI line has basically gone dormant here in the states. They are a car company that made one design with nothing left to change over time. Just like the "New Beetle” I mean how much more can you use the name..... a 1998 "New Beetle" is not new.
MB has a lot of catching up to do. In the States, Americans think GM and Ford are going bankrupt and they have too much backlash for making crappy cars. I think MB is Germany’s GM….
Enough said.
Posted by Andrew | July 7, 2007 3:09 PM
Posted on July 7, 2007 15:09
BTW, this has been publicly denied by both companies.
Posted by Obviously DaMinority | July 9, 2007 10:32 AM
Posted on July 9, 2007 10:32
I have to agree with Andrew, more or less.
But, I think that BMW is making a great move by letting Mercedes-Benz use the Mini platform. They are not doing it to help Mercedes-Benz; I bet they're doing it to put them further in the hole.
BMW put out a 1 series hatchback not to long ago, and it was an absolute failure; BMW's already tried it and found that it did not work. I bet they're thinking that if Mercedes-Benz wants to try it, and use Mini's platform, then they can go ahead. But they’ll be watching Mercedes-Benz face-plant hard (and gain a few euros in the process).
Posted by Larry | July 9, 2007 4:39 PM
Posted on July 9, 2007 16:39
A few days ago Sony denied a $100 price drop on the PS3...
Now, they're $100 cheaper.
Just because they deny it, doesn't mean that they won't do it. They may be trying to stop the rumors that have been popping up.
Posted by Larry | July 9, 2007 4:44 PM
Posted on July 9, 2007 16:44