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Porsche may not want its Boxster and Cayman models assembled by Magna, but Daimler has no problem allowing the Canadian supplier to manufacture bodies for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.
<P class=MsoNormal target=”_blank”>The aluminum bodies for the gullwing coupe will be built at Magna’s Steyr division, which was once known as Steyr-Daimler-Puch. Located in Graz, Austria, the branch has long been known to produce low-volume and specialty vehicles. Mercedes is no stranger to Magna-Steyr — not only did it help to engineer and build the first examples of its 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system, but it also currently builds the beefy Geländewagen SUV.
<P class=MsoNormal target=”_blank”>Thanks to Magna’s purchase of Opel from General Motors, many companies are expressing reservations about handing over production contracts to a firm that may be a direct competitor. Daimler, however, is not one of them.
<P class=MsoNormal target=”_blank”>“Magna has stated and confirmed again and again that they would have two totally separate organizations,” said Dieter Zetsche, Daimler’s CEO. “If that is a smart step that Magna is taking, does it prevent us from continuing our good business relationship with Magna, the supplier? Clearly no — so I have no problem from that perspective with their decision.”
<P class=MsoNormal target=”_blank”>Source: Automotive News
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