This is significant. When the three dominant German (and global) Auto OEMs come together to agree that eMobility is the way forward, and seek agreement on standards, technology and, in Germany at least, incentives and support.
We all know they are reacting, not pioneering, in the eMobility transition, thanks to Tesla in the main, but with the experience, political and financial might held by these three combine, then we can expect big momentum.
Interesting to see how they will deal with a reduction of cars sold, and if they believe that is the way forward. The BMW/Daimler co-operation over car sharing shows they may.
Also, noteworthy, they exclude Hydrogen Fuel Cells as a viable short/medium term option, which certainly doesn't surprise me, but will raise the hackles of the vociferous Hydrogen brigade on social media channels!!
During a call, executives of VW, BMW and Daimler have agreed on a common approach towards electric mobility following Volkswagen’s recent demand for technological clarity. Insiders report the trio being in agreement that the future belongs to battery-electric vehicles. In the coming decade, battery electric mobility will be the only technology to enable carmakers to comply with environmental laws in the EU, claim the Germans. According to the agreement, the bosses of the big three, VW, BMW and Daimler now jointly assume, or well, decided, that the focus will be on battery-electric cars. In turn, this means, not fuel cell vehicles, that they consider will not be ready for the market in the next ten years.
https://www.electrive.com/2019/03/21/german-carmaking-giants-agree-on-strategy/
