Impact Community

When Daimler, the German maker Mercedes Benz, and Silicon Valley based Tesla Motors, creators of the world’s most powerful electric sports car, join forces it can only be seen as a powerful sign of the dramatic shift taking place in the auto industry. When Volkswagen only a week later announces that it is exploring cooperation with BYD, the Chinese battery- and automaker, you realize that production of high quality electric cars are seriously on the industry’s agenda.

Daimler and Tesla already are already co-operating on electric versions of Daimler’s Smart and will now work together on batteries, electric drive systems and vehicle projects. Daimler has said that it aims to introduce next year the first battery-powered car under its Mercedes-Benz luxury brand. Read more about the Daimler-Tesla deal here.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen has said that it is exploring the possibility that Shenzhen-based BYD would supply a lithium-ion battery technology it developed for plug-in hybrid and all-electric battery-powered cars. BYD is one of the world’s biggest producers of cell phone batteries and a fast-rising auto-maker in China. The American investor Warren Buffet last winter bought a 10% share in the company that shortly after launched a plug-in car ahead of its international rivals. Read more about the VW-BYD co-operation here.