REPORT: Daimler sells 4% of Tesla to Middle East investment fund just two months after acquiring it
Tesla Roadster - Click above image for high-res gallery
Just two months after buying 9% of Tesla Motors, Daimler has reportedly sold nearly half of that stake. According to Reuters, 4% percent of the electric car startup is now owned by Aabar Investments, an Abu Dhabi-based investment fund. In a way, the stake is still in the family, since Aabar already bought 9.1 percent of Daimler's stock earlier this year. At the time of its original investment, Daimler and the fund indicated an intention to pursue joint projects in low emissions transportation.
Aabar has indicated it would be interested in pursuing some kind of joint venture with Tesla. The fund is controlled by the Abu Dhabi government and managed by the International Petroleum Investment Company with the intent of diversifying beyond oil.
Gallery: Jason Calacanis' Tesla Roadster
Photos copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Reuters]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Motor_Yakuza 6:54PM (7/13/2009)
Hmm..that's the Daimler way, divide and conquer, wonder how much it will take until Daimler will buy some more stocks from Tesla and sell after two months. And this crap just after the Chrysler one.
Daimler, probably the dirtiest player in the auto industry.
Reply
David Ederer 7:40PM (7/13/2009)
Daimler will do anything to destroy another automaker if it gets the chance.
Reply
Protzenegger 8:50PM (7/13/2009)
June 2019: Tesla acquired by Fiat amid sudden collapse and ensuing bankruptcy proceedings.
Damn you, Daimler.
Reply
Quan 9:06PM (7/13/2009)
I wouldn't be interested in owning any part of Tesla either. Good call Daimler.
Reply
why not the LS2LS7? 9:38PM (7/13/2009)
Well, Musk admitted they just did the deal to dress up the books to make the company appear to be eligible for the DOE money.
Reply
nelson 12:31AM (7/14/2009)
well whether or not Telsa Motors survives, thrives, or goes down in a bright blue flame, all of it will make one fascinating book some day.
Reply
Flea 4:03AM (7/14/2009)
gooood, so now Tesla is partially owned by people who owe EVERYTHING except their traditional attire to...oil.
This can only go well, right?
Reply
Nozferat 4:15AM (7/14/2009)
Blame it on terrorists and OPEC since everthing is their fault.
Reply
4r4nd0mninj4 12:42PM (9/08/2009)
Well it's not like Tesla had any control over what a shareholder does
with it's shairs. Yes I am concerned and alarmed over it, but once I
get my EV then I will no longer have to shell out for gas, and I can live
with that...for the time being. As long as Tesla is able to keep
enough control over it's business long enough to make the cars then I'm happy.
Reply