German luxury automaker BMW has dismissed suggestions that talks are being held about a partnership with American electric car maker Tesla.
Wirtschafts Woche, which translates to Business Weekly in English, approached the Bavarian company for a comment after speculation began brewing following a recent interview by Der Spiegel with Tesla CEO, Elon Musk.
In the interview, Musk claimed that Tesla has had discussions with BMW regarding collaboration on batteries, carbonfibre parts and charging stations. The Tesla CEO also praised the structural carbonfibre parts, used in the electric and range-extended BMW i3 hatchback and i8 plug-in hybrid supercar (below), as both “interesting” and “relatively cost effective”.
Responding to Wirtschafts Woche, the German car maker said, “The BMW Group has no interest in acquiring shares of Tesla”.
According to unnamed, but supposedly well informed sources, within BMW everyone in the auto industry speaks to everyone else, and BMW’s “informal discussions” with Tesla were just that.
One of the sources further speculated that “Musk using us for PR purposes” after Toyota decided to sell down its holding in Tesla. Rival Daimler also sold off its stake entirely, despite an on-going deal that sees Tesla supplying the electric drivetrain used in the Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive.
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