Mercedes-Benz Says It Is Open To Aston Martin Using SUV Platforms

Between the parts, engine tech., and now SUV platforms being shard by Benz with Aston, I wouldn't be surprised to see Aston become a unit of the Mercedes/Daimler family in say 10-15 yrs

I can already see Aston Martin using more of (counterfeit) Made in China parts by associating themselves with Beijing Benz (HQ in China).

Mercedes already builds their E class in China, thanks to Beijing Benz. So, it would be perfect if Aston Martin got some help from Beijing Benz as well, so that they can cut costs a lot and make more profits out of their overpriced products.

Benz already is engine and platform sharing with Nissan, and it makes sense to continue this trend. MB makes expensive cars and sharing development costs in any capacity will help. This makes sense too as the GL platform is unique and only one vehicle comes from that investment. Aston will also have a world class platform ensuring their effort is credible. I don't see MB buying Aston, why own the company when you can sell them your technology or jointly develop together.

Agree with everything but the latter, keeping a company like Nissan as a client rather than a unit makes sense as they are high volume which means more products, more transactions, more revenue.

A company like Aston Martin which only sold 3,400 units in 2012 is not writing a very big check to Benz for parts, so in the bigger picture, Benz adding a name as prestigious as Aston to their portfolio is a win win.

Benz already knows how to move high performance vehicles. AMG sold over 32,000 units last year

Agree with everything but the latter, keeping a company like Nissan as a client rather than a unit makes sense as they are high volume which means more products, more transactions, more revenue.

A company like Aston Martin which only sold 3,400 units in 2012 is not writing a very big check to Benz for parts, so in the bigger picture, Benz adding a name as prestigious as Aston to their portfolio is a win win.

Benz already knows how to move high performance vehicles. AMG sold over 32,000 units last year

Every little bit of revenue helps MB's bottom line and every penny saved from developing a platform helps Aston.

If Aston thought they could sell enough suvs to justify developing a new platform for it, I'm sure they would.

Mercedes is SO not a good partner for Aston Martin. Mercedes is predatory beyond belief. What this cooperation really means is badge engineered Aston Martins.

Yeah, because that worked so well for Chrysler.

It kinda did, Chrysler would be extinct if it weren't for Benz nursing them to life giving them platforms for 3 of their most successful vehicles the Previous gen 300 & Charger, based off E class from 2 generations ago and the sheep Grand Cherokee, one of their highest selling models, based off the M Class

Car4Life, your bias towards MB is clouding your memory and creating some revisionist history. When Daimler bought Chrysler for $36 Billion dollars... Chrysler was THE most profitable car company in the world? Suppose they should have waited a little longer, so as you put it, MB could nurse them back to health. Why would a company shell out that much $ if Chrysler needed life support? MB then proceeded to gut Chrysler and looted the company. Clearly the 300 and Grand Cherokee are winners but how about the Sebring, the Caliber... they were underfunded loser cars developed during the "merger". Again, everyone knows MB looted Chrysler, why... I don't know they paid $39
Billion for it... http://money.cnn.com/1998/05/06/deals/benz/

Maybe throw a GT-R engine in this Aston Martin Benz.
Or if you wanna pull a huge boat - an S65 engine to blast past the
Priusses or Prii..haw haw!