An interesting report from the ams: Quote: Toyota considering cooperation with Daimler world market leader Toyota is considering a cooperation with Daimler in order to make better use of its European factories and to save development costs. According to the so-called Toyota-MC platform, A- and B-Class variants could also be produced in future on the so-called Toyota-MC platform. Toyota wants to make better use of plants in Europe Die E The decision for the next A/B-Class platform has long since fallen at Mercedes. But Toyota is thinking in the long term – for the time after the crisis and thus for the next generation of compact models. In addition, Toyota wants to make better use of its plants in Europe and could also imagine a joint production with Mercedes. Toyota production is designed for more than nine million vehicles; however, in 2009, no more than 6.7 million cars will be produced by Band ro Toyota is interested in Mercedes battery technology Even between the flagship of the Toyota premium brand Lexus named LS and the counterpart at Mercedes, the S-Class, one could imagine similarities in Japan. What the Japanese are also interested in: Mercedes develops itself in battery systems, hybrid models and fuel cell. In addition, the sinfully expensive development of assistance systems. Here both companies could probably bundle activities – and development costs Volkswagen sees the Japanese world market leader as a serious competition. The Wolfsburgers are perfecting the modular principle: already today the golf platform PQ35 at VW, Seat, Skoda and Audi produces 3.6 million cars a year. Source: