I think this news could be highly important. But to explain why, I'll have to delve into a murky realm of rumors and speculation.
First some background. . . The conjoined DaimlerChrysler AG was one of the world's conservative, traditional, backward-looking companies. Chrysler's product line was focused on retro styling, Jeep SUVs and Dodge Ram trucks, and hemi V8 engines left over from the 1970s. They turned almost all of their R&D over to the German side of DaimlerChrysler, which was hardly any better. The Germans were looking primarily to a future of diesel engines -- and maybe hydrogen fuel cells someday in the far-distant future. They had very little in hybrids and virtually nothing going in BEVs or PHEVs.
Chrysler actually had GEM NEVs and PHEV Dodge Sprinter Vans for sale, but showed no sign of moving that technology toward mainstream passenger cars.
So, now we get into the juicy rumors. . . The one I heard is that DaimlerChrysler AG got into some sort of discussion with Tesla Motors, with a proposed joint venture to produce a PHEV. The rumor is silent about whether the talks ever led to anything at all.
Well, it could just be something that somebody dreamed up. That's how it goes with rumors. (Remember the one about White Star being based on a Ford Focus? Ha!) However, this one would make a fair amount of sense if it were true. DaimlerChrysler executives must have begun to realize how far behind they are falling in electric powertrain technology. With GM and Toyota racing to produce a PHEV, and Mitsubishi, Subaru and Nissan showing BEV concept cars, there's a growing threat to companies who aren't invested in this technology.
It could also make some kind of sense for Tesla, since they could design "Blue Star" as a PHEV and have a reliable source of internal combustion engines to put in it, and perhaps even use a DaimlerChrysler factory to assemble it. They would benefit from access to DaimlerChrysler's resources.
Now we have Daimler and Chrysler going their separate ways. Chrysler is left without much in the way of R&D assets, since Daimler keeps most of those. They need a fresh start. Regardless of whether a deal was ever reached between DaimlerChrysler and Tesla, Chrysler's management is surely aware of any discussions which may have taken place.
So. . . Here's Chrysler forming their own new division. “ENVI will operate as a ‘start-up’ with an entrepreneurial environment," according to Chrysler, but will have access to Chrysler's resources (newly bolstered with cash from Cerberus).
It sounds as though Chrysler want to create their own internal organization as a substitute for Tesla. ENVI will fill the same role within Chrysler that Tesla would (hypothetically) have filled in a venture with DaimlerChrysler.
Of course, saying is one thing and doing is another. It's very easy for pointy-haired management types to toss out buzzwords like "entrepreneurial environment" and "facilitate a speed-to-market development process" and "exploring new and unique ways of engaging target customers". Meanwhile, the whole venture could be easily sunk by corporate politics.
Also, Tesla have been working on the Roadster for something like four years now. ENVI will be starting from near zero. They'll be counting on those CerberusChrysler resources as they try to play catch-up. It won't happen overnight, if it happens at all.
