Daimler buys 10% stake in Tesla, will supply parts and engineering
by Sam Abuelsamid on May 19th 2009 at 9:27AM 
Mercedes-Benz/Tesla press conference – Click above for ABG's liveblog coverage
During a press conference held at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart this morning, Dr. Thomas Weber, the head of research and development for Mercedes-Benz, announced that Daimler is buying a 10% stake in Tesla Motors. Tesla CEO Elon Musk was also on hand for the announcement. The companies did not specify the amount paid by Daimler, other than it was in the double digit millions. Daimler will be providing Tesla with engineering support and possibly parts that may go into the Model S. Tesla, meanwhile, will continue providing battery packs for the second-generation Smart ED starting later this year. Tesla will also focus on battery pack integration and battery management systems for Daimler going forward.
The deal will also give Tesla access to the automotive lithium ion cells being produced by Daimler's investment in Li-Tec, a joint venture between Evonik and Daimler. Weber announced that Daimler would commence series production of electric Smarts in 2012, with volume projections in the five digits.
Daimler's Prof. Herbert Kohler (who is in charge of e-drive systems at the German automaker) will take up a board seat at Tesla and oversee development at the California company. We live blogged the conference at AutoblogGreen this morning and the official press release is after the jump.
[Source: Daimler]
The deal will also give Tesla access to the automotive lithium ion cells being produced by Daimler's investment in Li-Tec, a joint venture between Evonik and Daimler. Weber announced that Daimler would commence series production of electric Smarts in 2012, with volume projections in the five digits.
Daimler's Prof. Herbert Kohler (who is in charge of e-drive systems at the German automaker) will take up a board seat at Tesla and oversee development at the California company. We live blogged the conference at AutoblogGreen this morning and the official press release is after the jump.
[Source: Daimler]
PRESS RELEASE:
Strategic partnership: Daimler acquires stake in Tesla
• German automaker acquires nearly 10 percent of one of the leading
electric vehicle companies
• Automakers agreed to cooperate in battery systems, electric drive
systems and vehicle projects
May 19, 2009
STUTTGART, Germany, and SAN CARLOS, Calif. – Daimler AG has
acquired an equity stake of nearly 10 percent of Tesla Motors Inc. This
investment deepens the relationship between the inventor of the
automobile and the newest member of the global auto industry. Tesla is
the only production automaker selling a highway capable electric vehicle in
North America and Europe.
The two companies have already been working closely to integrate Tesla's
lithium-ion battery packs and charging electronics into the first 1,000 units
of Daimler's electric smart car. In order to benefit from each other's know-
how, the investment enables the partners to collaborate even more closely
on the development of battery systems, electric drive systems and in
individual vehicle projects.
"Our strategic partnership is an important step to accelerate the
commercialization of electric drives globally," said Dr. Thomas Weber,
Member of the Board of Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research and
Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. "As a young and dynamic company,
Tesla stands for visionary power and pioneering spirit. Together with
Daimler's 120 years of experience in the automotive sector this
collaboration is a unique combination of two companies' strengths. This
marks another important milestone in Daimler's strategy for sustainable
mobility."
"Daimler has set the benchmark for engineering excellence and vehicle
quality for more than a century. It is an honor and a powerful endorsement
of our technology that Daimler would choose to invest in and partner with
Tesla," said Tesla Chairman, CEO and Product Architect Elon Musk.
"Daimler is also on the leading edge in the field of sustainable mobility.
Among others the lithium-ion pouch-cell battery developed by Daimler and
especially designed for automotive applications is of interest to us. We are
looking forward to a strategic cooperation in a number of areas including
leveraging Daimler's engineering, production and supply chain expertise.
This will accelerate bringing our Tesla Model S to production and ensure
that it is a superlative vehicle on all levels."
Together on the road to electro-mobility
As part of the collaboration, Prof. Herbert Kohler, Vice President E-Drive
and Future Mobility at Daimler AG, will take a seat on Tesla's board of
directors.
This long-term partnership with Tesla complements Daimler's multi-
facetted strategy to advance the electrification of the automobile.
Daimler is also moving forward the industrialization of lithium-ion
technology. In March, the company founded the Deutsche Accumotive
GmbH, a joint venture with Evonik Industries AG. As a result, Daimler is
the first vehicle manufacturer worldwide that develops, produces and
markets batteries for automotive applications. This is based on a Daimler
stockholding in Li-Tec, the German specialist for lithium-ion battery cells.
100 smart electric cars have already been undergoing large-scale trials in
London since 2007. These electric vehicles are being tested in day-to-day
assignments by fleet operators and private customers.
Later this year the smart assembly plant in Hambach, France, will start
production of up to 1,000 units of the second-generation smart fortwo with
electric drive, which will initially be used for mobility projects such as e-
mobility Berlin or e-mobility Italy. This year Daimler is also starting small-
series production of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class with a fuel cell drive
system. In 2010 the company will introduce its first battery-powered
Mercedes-Benz. As of 2012, Daimler plans to equip all smart and
Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles with own produced lithium-ion batteries.
In 2004, Tesla began development of its first electric vehicle, the Roadster,
which remains the only highway capable EV for sale in North America or
Europe. The Tesla Roadster is the first production battery electric vehicle
to travel more than 200 miles per charge and the first US- and EU-certified
lithium-ion battery electric vehicle. This green supercar accelerates from 0
to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds yet gets the equivalent of 256 miles per gallon.
The Roadster, which travels an estimated 244 miles per charge with zero
tailpipe emissions, is the first production vehicle to break the historical
compromise between automobile performance and efficiency.
The Tesla Model S builds upon the success of the Tesla Roadster by
leveraging its technology into the world's first fully electric sedan. Based in
Silicon Valley, Tesla unveiled the Model S in March and plans to produce it
in California starting in late 2011.
About Daimler
Stuttgart, Germany-based Daimler AG, with its businesses Mercedes-Benz Cars, Daimler Trucks,
Daimler Financial Services, Mercedes-Benz Vans and Daimler Buses, is a globally leading
producer of premium passenger cars and is the global market leader for heavy- and medium-duty
trucks and buses. The Daimler Financial Services division has a broad offering of financial
services, including vehicle financing, leasing, insurance and fleet management. Daimler sells its
products in nearly every country and has production facilities on five continents. Founders,
Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, continued to make automotive history following their invention of
the automobile in 1886. As an automotive pioneer, Daimler and its employees willingly accept an
obligation to act responsibly towards society and the environment and to shape the future of safe
and sustainable mobility with groundbreaking technologies and high-quality products. The current
brand portfolio includes the world's most valuable automobile brand, Mercedes-Benz, as well as
smart, AMG, Maybach, Freightliner, Western Star, Mitsubishi Fuso, Setra, Orion and Thomas
Built Buses. The company is listed on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt, New York and Stuttgart
(stock exchange abbreviation DAI). In 2008, the Group sold 2.1 million vehicles and employed a
workforce of over 270,000 people; revenue totaled €95.9 billion and EBIT amounted to €2.7
billion. Daimler is an automotive Group with a commitment to excellence, and aims to achieve
sustainable growth and industry-leading profitability.
About Tesla Motors
San Carlos, Calif.-based Tesla Motors Inc. makes electric vehicles with exceptional design,
performance and efficiency, while conforming to all North American and European safety,
environmental and durability standards. The Roadster has a 0 to 60 mph acceleration of 3.9
seconds yet is more energy efficient than a Toyota Prius. Tesla expects to begin producing the
all-electric, zero-emission Model S sedan in late 2011.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
MemphisNET 9:29AM (5/19/2009)
10% now, steal all their profits later.
Reply
Avinash machado 9:29AM (5/19/2009)
A nice shot in the arm from Tesla.
Reply
The J 9:32AM (5/19/2009)
Well, Tesla will be up for sale in a couple of years now...
I mean...good job Daimler! I'm certain your hard work efforts, cutting edge designs like the Jeep Compass and Chrysler Sebring will push Tesla's designs into the future.
Reply
Jei 1:32PM (5/19/2009)
Love the sarcasm in your comment...unless you were....serious?
I can see Daimler taking advantage of their stake in Tesla to create some small electric Benz or smart cars.
The J 2:13PM (5/19/2009)
Total sarcasm, not a hint of truth in that one.
DJ 9:32AM (5/19/2009)
Announced the same day that Obama announces drastic changes to CAFE. Coincidence?
BMW will buy Fisker tomorrow.
Reply
dukeisduke 9:33AM (5/19/2009)
Did they buy 10% of Elon Musk's ego as well?
Reply
mudder 10:30AM (5/19/2009)
Priceless. Careful, however--you don't want Musk calling you a d*****bag.
Kitko 9:36AM (5/19/2009)
Sooner or later, Tesla would enter into some kind of partnership with major manufacturer anyway. Having said that, Daimler, in spite of just 10% stake, will benefit more in the long run, in the same way Ford benefited from it's 33.something stake in Mazda.
Still, IMHO, I don't thik rechargeable cars are a viable solution unless we (the world) build hundreds of new nuclear power stations to provide the electricity. Our current supplies and grids are just not sufficient and collapse every time there's a slightly hotter summer or a colder winter.
Reply
pickles 11:03AM (5/19/2009)
Regarding the nuclear power point you made.. from what I've read, 'the grid' is generally UNDER used in the evening, when most electric vehicles will be charging, so that idea is likely unfounded. Additionally, solar and wind will make terrific inroads (as it were) towards powering electric cars. I'm not saying nuclear won't gain some support, but for these reasons, it'll have a hard time being justified.
cdwrx 11:15AM (5/19/2009)
You guys are both correct. It will take a number of different energy producing technologies to meet our electrical needs in the future. There is no single silver bullet.
pickles 11:27AM (5/19/2009)
Maybe Elon has an ego but he's not dumb. I just read that he also plans to offer home roof mounted solar photovoltaic systems to generate power used by the Tesla (or I expect any electric vehicle or...) and to avoid adding additional drain on 'the grid' through ANOTHER company he's funded: Solar City.
That's brilliant in itself, but think of what that will do for customer loyalty. Once you bought the solar system to basically make all the 'fuel' you'll need, you're probably going to get another next time. Making your own power will be a trick few will want to give up after weaning themselves off the teat of Exxon/Chevron/Shell.
As for it being an American company.. I'll say it's definitely got American innovation, but the car was designed in England, uses Lotus (England) bits and is largely built there. It's American sort of like a PT Cruiser, or a Camaro (Canada), or a Pontiac G8 (American engine, Australian assembly and other bits).
Aaron 3:50PM (5/20/2009)
In the long run it'll be a much more viable option as we don't have to depend on foreign oil.
Also, the blackouts are more an issue of deregulation vs. lack of supply. Its the energy companies controlling the supply to move the price point higher. See Enron in California.
Seems like its a more simple solution than going to war or sending mass amounts of money to foreign markets. There's also the longterm issue of oil supply.
Toy Yoda 9:48AM (5/19/2009)
I would think that Daimler would have more of an interest in Fisker, since they seem to target similar markets. Still, I agree with DJ, look to see BMW buying a stake in Fisker.
Perhaps Fisker was approached, but turned down the offer. I once saw the backers of Fisker, and Fisker is supported by some pretty deep pockets.
Reply
DesiAuto 9:49AM (5/19/2009)
I have mixed feelings about this.
I consider Tesla an American Auto maker and now it's diluted.
Reply
Andrew 5:00PM (5/19/2009)
Well, Tesla does have the name of a European scientist. Tesla did come from Serbia, he is only so "American". Kind of poetic now, don't you think?
cheezwiz 9:52AM (5/19/2009)
I wonder how long before Daimler canibalizes Tesla and leaves the company to rot like they did with Chrysler...
Reply
AmericanIron 10:01AM (5/19/2009)
Great...another American company selling out to foreigners...nice. Hope the Obama administration takes notice and now denies them any money they were to receive from the Energy Bill. My prediction is that Fisker and Telsa (two high tech beacons of hope for the American auto industry) will be foreign owned in five years and as their parent companies move design and engineering to their home countries more high paying engineering jobs will disappear from our shores. Our politicians and especially our business leaders just do not get it.
Reply
Toy Yoda 10:28AM (5/19/2009)
That foreign companies buy stakes in American companies, I wouldn't be so worried about. Foreign companies buy stakes in American Companies, just as American companies buy stakes in foreign companies.
Mr.Oak 11:23AM (5/19/2009)
American Iron, I heard this same idiocy when the Japanese were "buying up" all American Landmarks in real estate. The Japanese are gone now, and the buildings are still here.
Chrysler prostituted itself to Daimler and literally got FU--ED. Now they're in a fight for survival. Getting in bed with FIAT now, somehow seems less dirty that the Daimler tryst.