

Mercedes-Benz/Tesla press conference – Click above for ABG's liveblog coverage







The deal will also give Tesla access to the automotive lithium ion cells being produced by Daimler's investment in Li-Tec, a joint venture between Evonik and Daimler. Weber announced that Daimler would commence series production of electric Smarts in 2012, with volume projections in the five digits.



Daimler's Prof. Herbert Kohler (who is in charge of e-drive systems at the German automaker) will take up a board seat at Tesla and oversee development at the California company.



[Source: Daimler] During a press conference held at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart this morning, Dr. Thomas Weber, the head of research and development for Mercedes-Benz , announced that Daimler is buying a 10% stake in Tesla Motors Tesla CEO Elon Musk was also on hand for the announcement. The companies did not specify the amount paid by Daimler, other than it was in the double digit millions. Daimler will be providing Tesla with engineering support and possibly parts that may go into the Model S . Tesla, meanwhile, will continue providing battery packs for the second-generation Smart ED starting later this year. Tesla will also focus on battery pack integration and battery management systems for Daimler going forward.The deal will also give Tesla access to the automotive lithium ion cells being produced by Daimler's investment in Li-Tec, a joint venture between Evonik and Daimler. Weber announced that Daimler would commence series production of electric Smarts in 2012, with volume projections in the five digits.Daimler's Prof. Herbert Kohler (who is in charge of e-drive systems at the German automaker) will take up a board seat at Tesla and oversee development at the California company. We live blogged the conference at AutoblogGreen this morning and the official press release is after the jump.[Source: Daimler]

PRESS RELEASE:

Strategic partnership: Daimler acquires stake in Tesla

• German automaker acquires nearly 10 percent of one of the leading

electric vehicle companies

• Automakers agreed to cooperate in battery systems, electric drive

systems and vehicle projects

May 19, 2009

STUTTGART, Germany, and SAN CARLOS, Calif. – Daimler AG has

acquired an equity stake of nearly 10 percent of Tesla Motors Inc. This

investment deepens the relationship between the inventor of the

automobile and the newest member of the global auto industry. Tesla is

the only production automaker selling a highway capable electric vehicle in

North America and Europe.

The two companies have already been working closely to integrate Tesla's

lithium-ion battery packs and charging electronics into the first 1,000 units

of Daimler's electric smart car. In order to benefit from each other's know-

how, the investment enables the partners to collaborate even more closely

on the development of battery systems, electric drive systems and in

individual vehicle projects.

"Our strategic partnership is an important step to accelerate the

commercialization of electric drives globally," said Dr. Thomas Weber,

Member of the Board of Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research and

Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. "As a young and dynamic company,

Tesla stands for visionary power and pioneering spirit. Together with

Daimler's 120 years of experience in the automotive sector this

collaboration is a unique combination of two companies' strengths. This

marks another important milestone in Daimler's strategy for sustainable

mobility."

"Daimler has set the benchmark for engineering excellence and vehicle

quality for more than a century. It is an honor and a powerful endorsement

of our technology that Daimler would choose to invest in and partner with

Tesla," said Tesla Chairman, CEO and Product Architect Elon Musk.

"Daimler is also on the leading edge in the field of sustainable mobility.

Among others the lithium-ion pouch-cell battery developed by Daimler and

especially designed for automotive applications is of interest to us. We are

looking forward to a strategic cooperation in a number of areas including

leveraging Daimler's engineering, production and supply chain expertise.

This will accelerate bringing our Tesla Model S to production and ensure

that it is a superlative vehicle on all levels."

Together on the road to electro-mobility

As part of the collaboration, Prof. Herbert Kohler, Vice President E-Drive

and Future Mobility at Daimler AG, will take a seat on Tesla's board of

directors.

This long-term partnership with Tesla complements Daimler's multi-

facetted strategy to advance the electrification of the automobile.

Daimler is also moving forward the industrialization of lithium-ion

technology. In March, the company founded the Deutsche Accumotive

GmbH, a joint venture with Evonik Industries AG. As a result, Daimler is

the first vehicle manufacturer worldwide that develops, produces and

markets batteries for automotive applications. This is based on a Daimler

stockholding in Li-Tec, the German specialist for lithium-ion battery cells.

100 smart electric cars have already been undergoing large-scale trials in

London since 2007. These electric vehicles are being tested in day-to-day

assignments by fleet operators and private customers.

Later this year the smart assembly plant in Hambach, France, will start

production of up to 1,000 units of the second-generation smart fortwo with

electric drive, which will initially be used for mobility projects such as e-

mobility Berlin or e-mobility Italy. This year Daimler is also starting small-

series production of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class with a fuel cell drive

system. In 2010 the company will introduce its first battery-powered

Mercedes-Benz. As of 2012, Daimler plans to equip all smart and

Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles with own produced lithium-ion batteries.

In 2004, Tesla began development of its first electric vehicle, the Roadster,

which remains the only highway capable EV for sale in North America or

Europe. The Tesla Roadster is the first production battery electric vehicle

to travel more than 200 miles per charge and the first US- and EU-certified

lithium-ion battery electric vehicle. This green supercar accelerates from 0

to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds yet gets the equivalent of 256 miles per gallon.

The Roadster, which travels an estimated 244 miles per charge with zero

tailpipe emissions, is the first production vehicle to break the historical

compromise between automobile performance and efficiency.

The Tesla Model S builds upon the success of the Tesla Roadster by

leveraging its technology into the world's first fully electric sedan. Based in

Silicon Valley, Tesla unveiled the Model S in March and plans to produce it

in California starting in late 2011.

About Daimler

Stuttgart, Germany-based Daimler AG, with its businesses Mercedes-Benz Cars, Daimler Trucks,

Daimler Financial Services, Mercedes-Benz Vans and Daimler Buses, is a globally leading

producer of premium passenger cars and is the global market leader for heavy- and medium-duty

trucks and buses. The Daimler Financial Services division has a broad offering of financial

services, including vehicle financing, leasing, insurance and fleet management. Daimler sells its

products in nearly every country and has production facilities on five continents. Founders,

Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, continued to make automotive history following their invention of

the automobile in 1886. As an automotive pioneer, Daimler and its employees willingly accept an

obligation to act responsibly towards society and the environment and to shape the future of safe

and sustainable mobility with groundbreaking technologies and high-quality products. The current

brand portfolio includes the world's most valuable automobile brand, Mercedes-Benz, as well as

smart, AMG, Maybach, Freightliner, Western Star, Mitsubishi Fuso, Setra, Orion and Thomas

Built Buses. The company is listed on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt, New York and Stuttgart

(stock exchange abbreviation DAI). In 2008, the Group sold 2.1 million vehicles and employed a

workforce of over 270,000 people; revenue totaled €95.9 billion and EBIT amounted to €2.7

billion. Daimler is an automotive Group with a commitment to excellence, and aims to achieve

sustainable growth and industry-leading profitability.

About Tesla Motors

San Carlos, Calif.-based Tesla Motors Inc. makes electric vehicles with exceptional design,

performance and efficiency, while conforming to all North American and European safety,

environmental and durability standards. The Roadster has a 0 to 60 mph acceleration of 3.9

seconds yet is more energy efficient than a Toyota Prius. Tesla expects to begin producing the

all-electric, zero-emission Model S sedan in late 2011.