Report: Daimler, Renault Team Up for Small Car Alliance
German automaker Daimler AG and French car manufacturer Renault have reportedly agreed on a new business strategy that will see both parties create a global small-car alliance, sharing development costs and technology. Details of the deal are set to be announced tomorrow in Brussels with Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche and Renault-Nissan Boss Carlos Ghosn taking part.
According to a report by Automotive News Europe, the management boards for each automaker have agreed to the partnership.
Currently Daimler, parent company to Mercedes-Benz and Smart, is looking to introduce new A-Class and B-Class models, as well as bring the B-Class to the U.S. New Smart models are also a part of future plans. Meanwhile, Renault, which owns Japanese automaker Nissan, launched a new sub-compact Micra (above), which is slated for global sales.
The move is just the latest partnership to emerge in a post-recession auto industry, where automakers are looking not only for ways to reduce research and development costs, but to partner with companies with expertise in other areas. Earlier this year, Volkswagen and Suzuki announced a similar partnership, while Italian automaker Fiat took control of Chrysler in a bid to reduce costs and expand into new markets.
[Source: Automotive News]
With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.
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