BMW to Sell Engines to Fiat and GM?
A source for Financial Times Deutschland has revealed that BMW is in negotiations with General Motors and Fiat to sell its own engines and transmissions to the two automakers.
The German daily paper cites that it will release the details today, according to Automotive News.
BMW is already involved in a joint effort with BMW and Daimler AG – with the two-mode hybrid transmission. The extended sales of powertrain units to other automakers would boost revenues and allow BMW to redistribute development costs over more production – and, in theory, allow them to spend more on R&D.
+ Automotive News: Report: GM, Fiat may buy BMW engines
+ WINDING ROAD:Goad to Spring: 2008 BMW 1-Series Convertible Test Drive
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Comments
mike
intriguing. GM sells a bunch of automatic trans to BMW. Or at least they used to.
doug
GM seems to be doing just fine in the engine department, why would they need to buy some from BMW?
Oollyoumn
doug, Just fine? GM has bought or had other companies engineer many engines. GM cars and trucks use Isuzu designed or build engines, GM has used Honda and Toyota engines, they have also used engines designed by Northstar and Ricardo. They even used a Ford engine for racing. In the engine department GM has used, and still uses many companies as a technological crutches. One more is no surprise.
Mirko
Nobody remebers the Opel Omega, which used to be available with a BMW common-rail inline six diesel in the late 1990s?
Russ Bellinis
I think this will be the wave of the future for all auto manufacturers. The rapidly changing emission laws, fuel economy standards, etc. make it much too expensive for a company to engineer a complete line of engines to fit every size vehicle they make. When you add in the cost of tooling to the r&d costs, it makes sense to spread the investment over a larger production base. It is already done in most other automotive related industries. How many people actually think that Sears makes Die Hard batteries. What difference does it make if BMW makes an engine and offers it to G.M. with a Chevy or Pontiac badge. G.M. used Saab to design the current eco tech 4 cylinder engine that is their standard economy car engine. They use Izusu deisels in their light trucks. They are even using Opel to design many of their new cars. A couple of days ago there was an article about Aston Martin outsourcing engines. I think the only way Ferrari will continue to make their own engines is if they can continue to supply engines to Maserati and Alpha. I wouldn't be surprised to see Fiat use one bank from the Ferrari v8 to make a 4 cylinder or chop 2 cylinders off the end of the v8 to make a v6 for Fiat, Lancia & Alpha. This would reduce Ferrari's per engine development and manufacturing cost.
Auto News » BMW to Sell Engines to Fiat and GM?
[...] Jim Baca wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt/bmwm3engine.jpg” /> A source for Financial Times Deutschland has revealed that + Automotive News: Report: GM, Fiat may buy/bmw engines + WINDING ROAD:Goad to Spring: 2008/bmw 1-Series Convertible Test Drive If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com [...]
southern
GM now sources the 6 speed auto to BMW.
Maybe the twin turbo diesel for GM?
Brock
Was it really just 30 years ago you could sue and win if GM labeled a Chevy 350 as an Olds Rocket and sold it to you in your new Delta 88?
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