Mercedes Tells Google They Would Be Better Off As A Supplier Than An Automaker

Technology companies such as Google are unlikely to become mass car manufacturers, even if they have the potential to disrupt an industry increasingly focused on software and automated driving, the head of German carmaker Daimler said on Friday.

In recent years, automakers and Silicon Valley companies have grown increasingly inter-dependent because next-generation cars need advanced software and sensors, shaking up the traditional pecking order among carmakers and their suppliers.

While Google unveiled an advanced self-driving car last year, Daimler chief executive Dieter Zetsche said the U.S. company's objective was probably to better understand how cars are used, rather than to become a manufacturer in its own right.

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Agent009 - 2/16/2015 10:33:05 AM

+1 Boost

I fully agree. When left to its own Google has the resources but not the focus. This is quite evident under the hood of Android vs iOS.

The inconsistencies between versions of Android and the underlying security issues that are never resolved show a focus on slapping together code and throwing it out to the masses. "We will fix it in the next version" is the mantra.

This would make me seriously question the ability of this company to maintain security and address serious issues.

Apple on the other hand does a pretty good job and maintaining stability and continuity in it's products. If an issue arises they are far quicker than the automakers in reacting and correcting serious flaws. However I'm not sure I would want an Apple car either.

Perhaps both would be better of being suppliers or sticking to novelty vehicles.

Car4Life - 2/17/2015 9:50:14 AM

+1 Boost

LOL, in other words Mercedes is saying, unless you want us to start putting our name on some high end phones/tablets/smart glasses of our own, fall back and leave car manufacturing to us...

MDarringer - 2/16/2015 10:55:27 AM

+1 Boost

Like Google, Apple has ZERO experience building cars and I would rather have a car designed by a real car company than by either Google or Apple. If I were say Lincoln or Cadillac, I'd team with Apple to "Think Different" and potentially produce a game changer.

runninglogan1 - 2/16/2015 8:09:30 PM

+1 Boost

I think Apple has made it clear that they have no interest in teaming up with ANYONE to develop ANYTHING.

Their R&D budget is the envy of every other company and it's well known that most of the things they come up with never see the light of day.

If it's true that they're going to hire 1000 people to work on this and throw some of their almost limitless resources at it, I figure there's a good chance they can come up with something great.

Remember, Apple is sitting on $180 billion in CASH - they need to find something to spend it on!