| Auto Bild, a German motor magazine, reported | | | | Ganal's counterpart, Mercedes sales chief Klaus |
| that BMW, the largest premium carmaker in the | | | | Maier, denied days later that there were "any |
| world, and its closest competitor, Mercedes-Benz, | | | | plans at present" to broaden the partnership any |
| are in negotiations over a partnership in order to | | | | further. |
| build subcompact cars. | | | | A spokesman for Mercedes said that the brand |
| Without citing sources, Auto Bild said in its | | | | retained its openness to cooperation where it |
| forthcoming Friday edition that the two companies | | | | makes sense but reaffirmed Maier's comments |
| are expected to make a decision in July if the | | | | that there were no current plans to broaden its |
| next generation Mercedes A-Class will be built on | | | | hybrid partnership with BMW into other areas. |
| BMW's Mini platform. | | | | About BMW |
| BMW, Mini's parent company, is considering finding | | | | Along with its automotive concerns such as |
| a partner because heavy cost pressure means | | | | building quality BMW emblem, the BMW Group's |
| Mini runs the risk of losing money should its | | | | activities encompass the development, production |
| Oxford, England plant not run at full capacity. | | | | and marketing of motorcycles, as well as |
| Other than that, discussions could include Honda | | | | comprehensive financial services for private and |
| and existing partner PSA, and Mercedes, its | | | | business customers. |
| arch-rival. | | | | With BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the |
| For its part, Mercedes has reportedly planned on | | | | group is the only car maker in the world to |
| building the next A-Class in 2012 on a platform to | | | | pursue a purely premium strategy for all market |
| be developed together with Chrysler. But these | | | | sectors covered by its brands, from exclusive |
| plans have been dropped after parent company | | | | smaller cars to top-of-the-range luxury limousines. |
| DaimlerChrysler have disposed majority of its | | | | Other business interests of the group are |
| stake in the loss-making U.S. carmaker. | | | | insurance (Bavaria Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH), IT |
| Michael Ganal, BMW's sales and marketing head, | | | | consulting and systems integration (Softlab |
| suggested early last month in an interview with | | | | GmbH). |
| German business magazine WirtschaftsWoche the | | | | About Mercedes-Benz |
| expansion of its current cooperation with | | | | Since then, German car maker Mercedes-Benz is |
| Mercedes, which develops hybrid powertrains, into | | | | the pioneer in innovations, striking design and |
| other fields also. | | | | industry-leading safety features that are sure to |
| A BMW spokesperson said that Ganal was | | | | impress. It has also pioneered reduction of CO2 |
| generally speaking on the possible further | | | | emission, comfort for high mileage drivers, and |
| partnerships. | | | | driving dynamics. |