Car Advice

Toyota considers Daimler partnership – report

By Matt Brogan |

A report from German paper Auto Motor und Sport says Toyota is considering a partnership with European heavy-weight Daimler.

After Toyota’s recent collaboration with Aston Martin on a small car project, the idea may not be as silly as it sounds.

The alliance could see Toyota produce its own versions of Mercedes-Benz’s A- and B- Class vehicles (using its own MC platform), and maybe even stretch things so far as to collaborate on models including the Lexus LS and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

But the report has been dismissed by a European Toyota representative who said: “It’s part of our normal business practice that we regularly talk to other carmakers but there are no specific projects planned at the moment.”

Were the partnership to come to fruition Toyota could step up its presence in the European marketplace, especially where Lexus is concerned.


 
  • Rongway

    Heh – Are Toyota hoping to repeat the perfomance they got with the GM alliance?
    http://www.caradvice.com.au/33976/toyota-gm-joint-venture-over-in-us/
    Of course I’m not saying that Toyota destroyed GM, how could you think that? Or is that hesitation from Toyota because of the results of the Daimler Chrysler alliance?

  • Shak

    that would be good for the Aussie market as the Statesman/ Caprice would finally have some competition. Im a Holden Fan, but if the car had some competition then Holden would be forced to constantly improve the car and not just say “well were the only ones in this segment so you have to buy this the way we want”

  • soon

    sadly, holden won’t be here in 2 year time.

  • Reckless1

    Take an A or B class, remove the ABS, take out the sub-floor safety cell, cheapen the interior and you get a Toycedes.

    No Thanks.

  • Frontman

    I reckon MB thought they’d be the easiest to aligne with as they have spent so much time pulling benz’s apart to learn how to make Lexus that they won’t have to be taught anything else…….. ;-)