Japanese automaker Suzuki is getting increasingly frustrated with its larger partner Volkswagen and is eyeing deeper ties with Italian giant Fiat, German media said Saturday.
"The cooperation with Fiat has been going well in a climate of mutual trust for years," a senior Suzuki executive told the Automobilwoche weekly.
"It is perfectly imaginable that a strengthened partnership would be beneficial to both parties," he said. "On the other hand, our cooperation with Volkswagen is still being reviewed."
Volkswagen's purchase of a 19.9% stake in Suzuki in December 2009 had been seen as an opportunity for both carmakers to benefit from eachother's strengths, in hybrid and small-car technologies respectively.
Hans Demant, in charge of international cooperation at Volkswagen, stressed that both automakers were "two independent companies with different economic models."
"As a result, cooperation should be developed with caution. It is unfortunately taking a little longer than what had been initially planned," he told Automobilwoche.
In May this year, Italian daily Corriere della Sera had reported a secret meeting in Italy between Fiat and Suzuki executives.
© 2011 Agence France-Presse
7 Comments
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GG2141
I can envision how that scenario is going down.....
Every single request for information or opinion from the Japanese side immediately becomes an "Ahh japan so very special culture" argument. And nothing gets gone.
And of course VW, being German, will decide to send in ze panzers to crush ze dissenting opinions.
nath
Suzuki has built small kei cars for years and has the technology down-pat, but without special tax or other incentives there's no demand for such vehicles anywhere else in the world, including Germany. So, the kei ace turns to be a low card in Suzuki's deck when played internationally. VW on the other hand is better known for highly efficient gasoline and diesel engines, and although in hybrids it's still making baby steps compared to Toyota the German car manufacturer can offer its Japanese partner much more than Suzuki can give to VW.
Foxie
FIAT - that stands for in German 'Fehler In Allen Teilen' (mistakes in all parts). Good luck with that.
Zenny11
FIAT - First In Al Troubles.
Zenny11
Al = All
badmigraine
GG2141--Sounds about right. I heard that's what actually happened when Daimler had their "alliance" with Mitsubishi Motors.
As for FIAT, I was taught that the English meaning is "Fix It Again Tony".
forzaducati
Fiat isn't that bad a car at all. Anyway, Fiat and Suzuki make fine mobile rucksacks.