RUMOR: Is Tesla going to buy Mercedes?

[FutureBoy]

Yesterday I was talking to a guy who has a lot of time on his hands and enough money to be interested in high priced toys.

In the conversation he said he had heard that Elon was thinking of buying Mercedes (the brand/company).

I have no idea what he heard to give himself that idea. Has anyone else come across this rumor? Anyone see any benefit to Tesla or to Elon’s mission from this kind of transaction?

 

[flowerlandfilms]

...no...

 

[Richard V.]

Yesterday I was talking to a guy who has a lot of time on his hands and enough money to be interested in high priced toys.

In the conversation he said he had heard that Elon was thinking of buying Mercedes (the brand/company).

I have no idea what he heard to give himself that idea. Has anyone else come across this rumor? Anyone see any benefit to Tesla or to Elon’s mission from this kind of transaction?

Perhaps it is here: Tesla Merger With Daimler Would Be Like Elon Musk Dragging a 50-lb Rock Behind Him Wherever He Goes | Torque News

 

[jerhenderson]

Yesterday I was talking to a guy who has a lot of time on his hands and enough money to be interested in high priced toys.

In the conversation he said he had heard that Elon was thinking of buying Mercedes (the brand/company).

I have no idea what he heard to give himself that idea. Has anyone else come across this rumor? Anyone see any benefit to Tesla or to Elon’s mission from this kind of transaction?

there is absolutely no good reason for Tesla to do that..... so I'll say no.

 

[CyberT]

Perhaps it is here: Tesla Merger With Daimler Would Be Like Elon Musk Dragging a 50-lb Rock Behind Him Wherever He Goes | Torque News

I love that headline! It will never happen

 

[Bill906]

Was the rumor that Elon is thinking of buying Mercedes? Or TESLA is going to buy Mercedes?

 

[FutureBoy]

Was the rumor that Elon is thinking of buying Mercedes? Or TESLA is going to buy Mercedes?

The guy didn’t have perfect English and I wasn’t trying to push for more info. But it almost sounded like Elon personally buying Mercedes. Other than possibly to make the German government more compliant to Tesla permits etc, I really don’t see the benefit of such a purchase.

 

[Ogre]

...no...

Well said.

What value would the Mercedes brand bring to Tesla?

Tesla would literally be buying the badge and that’s it. Very very little else Mercedes owns is going to translate into assets which would work down to Tesla’s bottom line.

Factories? Not really.

Engine technology? LOL right.

Seats? I think Mercedes outsources them anyhow (and Tesla does fine making their own).

 

[Ogre]

The guy didn’t have perfect English and I wasn’t trying to push for more info. But it almost sounded like Elon personally buying Mercedes. Other than possibly to make the German government more compliant to Tesla permits etc, I really don’t see the benefit of such a purchase.

Elon talked about the sprinter van being a nice form factor and at one point talked about the possibility of buying Sprinter van shells to install Tesla batteries/ motors into.

 

[Dusty]

Why would Tesla purchase a company with zero strategic advantages and riddled with debt?

 

[madquadbiker]

Why would Tesla purchase a company with zero strategic advantages and riddled with debt?

But on a positive note, would that mean I could stick a Tesla badge on my Smart Fortwo EQ.

 

[firsttruck]

Why would Tesla purchase a company with zero strategic advantages and riddled with debt?

Hmm, could this be like in Western U.S. Sometimes WATER (H2O) can be more precious than gold.

Don't want to reward coal mining company even if it has water rights.

Does Mercedes have rights to large amounts of water in Brandenburg, Germany?

 

[Richard V.]

Yesterday I was talking to a guy who has a lot of time on his hands and enough money to be interested in high priced toys.

In the conversation he said he had heard that Elon was thinking of buying Mercedes (the brand/company).

I have no idea what he heard to give himself that idea. Has anyone else come across this rumor? Anyone see any benefit to Tesla or to Elon’s mission from this kind of transaction?

Did you like my answer or were you thinking of something else? The person doing the message at my reference is saying he is going to also post/say the opposite why it could be a good idea to do that soon.

 

[Deleted member 3316]

Tesla wouldn’t bother buying out a car company, Tesla would just buy up all the relevant suppliers. Hasten the demise of ICE OEMs, and accelerate the expansion curve.

 

[Richard V.]

Tesla wouldn’t bother buying out a car company, Tesla would just buy up all the relevant suppliers. Hasten the demise of ICE OEMs, and accelerate the expansion curve.

You are most likely right. Elon his too much of a free thinker to be bogged down with buying an old shipyard.
Final answer! (Almost!)