VW and DaimlerChrysler get busy

Newswheel staff :: 30 November 2005 :: Filed under Chrysler, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, Europe & UK, US

[Click on an image to view]

Unholy alliance from big German brands

Developing modern motor cars is a shockingly expensive business. Which explains why German heavyweights and historical sworn enemies VW and DaimlerChyrsler could be hopping into to bed to produce not just a van/MPV, but also a VW Polo-based car.

If German mag Autobild has its story straight, the deal looks like a classic tit-for-tat lark. Chrysler will knock up a US-targeted people-carrying van for VW, probably based on the Voyager MPV. Meanwhile, in return VW will take the knife to the next-gen Polo, reskinning the car for DaimlerChrysler. So, that’s a VW MPV built by Daimler-owned Chrysler in the US and a new pocket-sized Merc knocked out in Slovakia by VW (though it should be noted that it’s not detailed which brand the Polo-based Daimler car will be marketed under). Confusing, eh?

Of course, we wouldn’t dare to speculate whether this apparently grand alliance of German giants represents a first step towards a deeper partnership twixt DC and VW. But it’s really rather interesting to muse on the fact that the cost of car development is great enough to force such fierce rivals to put their differences aside and work together on multiple projects.

Linkage:
RP Online (German only)
Germancarblog