63 Articles
Livestrong is Daimler's second partner in Austin's Car2go car-sharing service

Car2go Smart Fortwo – Click above for high-res image gallery

Smart move? Daimler reportedly teams with Renault for next-gen minicar

2009 Smart Fortwo – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Return of Wolfgang: Bernhard reportedly brought back to Mercedes-Benz

The prodigal son returns. As with the Biblical parable, a well-loved son (ably played in real life by Wolfgang Bernhard) leaves the comfort of home (Bernhard previously served as Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche's second in command) and embarks on a journey away from his family.

Celebrated photographer David LaChapelle gets artsy with Maybach [UPDATE: Video added]

Maybach Zeppelin through the eyes of David LaChapelle - click above to view high-res NSFW gallery

REPORT: Daimler and BMW decline U.S. transmission joint-venture

Daimler AG is one of a shrinking number of automakers that continues to build its own transmissions, but the parent of Mercedes-Benz is now looking to change that. The automaker has been holding talks with rival BMW about possible powertrain collaborations including transmissions. Mercedes already supplies the two-mode hybrid transmissions that BMW is installing in its forthcoming ActiveHybrid X6. However, a proposal to build a joint factory to produce automatic transmissions in the U.S. for the

REPORT: Daimler sells 9.1% stake to Abu Dhabi firm for $2.7 billion

The global auto industry is enduring its worst crisis in decades, and iconic companies with 100-year histories are being pushed to the brink. Luxury automaker Daimler is no different, with Mercedes-Benz sales down 17% in the past quarter and posting a loss of $1.95 billion in the fourth quarter alone. To help alleviate the a major cash crunch, Daimler has sold off 9.1% of the company to Abu Dhabi fi

REPORT: Daimler to open Mercedes hybrid electric research base in MI

In an all-too-rare win for Detroit's automaker base, the state of Michigan and Daimler have reportedly reached a deal to see a new Mercedes-Benz hybrid and electric car research and development facility built in neighboring Ann Arbor. Among other things, the facility will develop hybrid transmissions, electric motors, and powertrain management software.

Tesla not considering SUV, $20,000 Bluestar

The head of Tesla Motors, Elon Musk, was in the house at the Always On Going Green conference giving a talk yesterday and had lots to say about possible upcoming products from his company. First off, in contradiction to what we heard earlier from Tesla marketing guy, Daryl Siry, there may very well be an SUV in the pipeline. Alth

Daimler reduces book value of Chrysler stake by two-thirds

Daimler may have divested 80.1% of its ownership in Chrysler, but the German automaker is still feeling pain from the Pentastar. The value of Daimler's portion of Chrysler has dropped from $2.18 billion to $852 million not even a year after the two parted ways. The loss of nearly $1.4 billion in value is a fair chunk of change, even for the mighty Daimler, but the news is not all bad for company shareholders. If Daimler hadn't Chris Shunk

BMW still mulling selling engines to competitors

BMW has been kicking ass and taking names in luxury vehicle sales, and the Bavarian Motor mavens hold the top spot in global luxury sales as proof. Even though sales are more than brisk, top management wants to grow profits, and selling the German automaker's silky-smooth engines to its competitors may be part of the profitability plan. Back in February (Chris Shunk

Mercedes plans demo fleet of electric Smarts

We've been hearing about electric Smart cars for ages now and although some have been made and even test driven, these EVs haven't seemed to have the full weight of Daimler AG behind

Speculation for 2008: Ford and Chrysler to merge?

Chrysler and Ford have been at the top of the headlines all year long for various reasons, with Ford continuing to slim down by selling off its PAG brands, while Chrysler got dumped by Daimler and went private at the hands of Cerberus Capital Management. 2008 looks to be an equally interesting year in the auto industry, and a recent article in Fortune by senior editor Alex Taylor III suggests that a merg

Ballard says fuel cells not worth it, confirms rumors it's selling automotive unit

Ballard Power Systems, one of the larger fuel cell companies, confirmed rumors they are in talks to sell their automotive fuel cell assets to Daimler AG and Ford Motor Company. Ballard says the Lascelles Linton

Sale of Chrysler will cost DCX $673m

In the history of big business, few mergers and takeovers can hold a candle to the $36 billion "merger of equals" that Daimler pulled off in 1998. When the dust settled, DCX stock was up in the stratosphere, and German executives were hailed as conquering heroes. Only nine years later, the folks from Stuttgart were so anxious to dump the albatross that was Chrysler, that they paid Chris Shunk

Auction Action: 50-year-old blingmobile on the block

Some say Sir Bernard Docker lost his job as chairman of Daimler in 1956 because of his wife. Lady Norah Docker thought Daimler needed to add some pizazz, some "bling" if you will, to its staid lineup. So she pushed Sir Docker to make a series of extravagant show cars now known as the Docker Daimlers. And the enormous cost of those cars (as well as some questionable expense reports) cost Sir Docker his position at Daimler.

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