Tesla and Mercedes are Talking Electric Vans

Tesla has talked to Daimler about collaborating on an electric van, according to a report from Bloomberg.

The report said discussions were initiated after Tesla Chief Executive praised Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van in a November tweet.

“Maybe interesting to work with Daimler/Mercedes on an electric Sprinter. That’s a great van. We will inquire,” Musk said at the time.

Shortly after, the two companies “started sounding out possible prospects for a battery-powered van through a series of phone calls involving Jerome Guillen, a Tesla executive who previously worked for Daimler,” the report said.

“These talks are happening,” Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche reportedly said Wednesday in Stuttgart, adding that the “outcome is open.”

Daimler previously announced a plan to to offer an electric version of the Sprinter this year – a 41 kWh battery that delivers 71.5 miles of range and a 55 kWh battery that offers 93.2 miles of range. It’s not clear how Tesla and Daimler may weave their products together or if they may pursue an entirely new vehicle.

The two companies have a history of working together. Daimler turned an early investment in Tesla into a $780 million profit when it sold its holdings in 2014. And Zetsche said in October that he would be open to working with Tesla again.

https://teslamotorsclub.com/blog/2018/10/29/daimler-ceo-says-automaker-is-still-open-to-working-with-tesla/

 

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