Diamler wants to buddy up to Tesla while Cadillac aims to conquer it

By Stephen Edelstein November 1, 2013

daimler wants more cooperation with tesla motors model s red on road — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Tesla Motors may have a new friend. Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler wants to expand its cooperation with the Silicon Valley-based electric-car company.

Daimler chief financial officer Bodo Uebber is looking for more ways for the two companies to work together.

“I told my guys, go back to Tesla and look for other opportunities,” Uebber told Reuters at a press briefing Thursday.

Uebber didn’t provide any specifics, but he did say that Daimler “could use more” from Tesla.

Daimler currently holds a 4.3-percent stake in Tesla, which also supplied the battery pack for the previous-generation smart fortwo Electric Drive (the current version uses a battery from Deutche Accumotive).

Daimler’s other electric-car project was on the opposite end of the scale from the tiny smart.

Mercedes SLS electric — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive, pictured above, produced an astounding 740 horsepower, but long charging times and an anticipated purchase price of around $536,000 made it a little too impractical for most buyers.

Unlike the smart and SLS, the upcoming Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive might have some relevance for normal people. It’s Mercedes’ first serious effort at a mainstream electric car, and is poised to take on the BMW i3 electric city car.

For its part, Tesla is no stranger to collaborations with other carmakers. In addition to its relationship with Daimler, the California company built the electric powertrain for the current-generation Toyota RAV4 EV.

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Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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