Tesla and BMW discuss sharing electric vehicle technology

A future where the electric car is ubiquitous cannot be built by one company alone, regardless of the hype around Tesla and its progress in consumer automotive space. That’s why it’s exciting to hear from Elon Musk himself about talks between BMW and Tesla, even if they’re only informal, around potential collaboration on battery and charger technology. Musk’s comments are from an interview in Der Spiegel, the German weekly news publication.

U.S. electric carmaker Tesla Motors (TSLA.O) is in talks with Germany’s BMW (BMWG.DE) over a possible collaboration in batteries and lightweight components, Tesla’s Chief Executive Elon Musk told German weekly Der Spiegel. In an interview published on Sunday, Musk described BMW’s production of carbon fibre reinforced car body parts as “interesting” and “relatively cost efficient.” BMW uses carbon fibres from its joint venture with materials supplier SGL (SGCG.DE) to make reinforced passenger cell parts for its i3 electric hatchback and i8 plug-in hybrid sports car. Officials at BMW were not immediately available to comment. “We are talking about whether we can collaborate in battery technology or charging stations,” Musk was quoted as saying in the interview. A spokeswoman for Tesla in Germany later described the discussions as informal. “The conversation between Elon Musk and BMW has been a casual conversation, and not about a formal cooperation,” spokeswoman Kathrin Schira said.