Brilliance Auto may sign with Daimler, Toyota

Sep. 15, 2009 (China Knowledge) - Brilliance Auto, the Chinese partner of BMW AG, may soon reach a deal with Daimler AG and Toyota Motor Corp to make special purpose vehicles in China, a company source said on Friday, Reuters reported.

Sources last month said that the companies are planning to set up a plant to convert Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles into special purpose vehicles, and that an agreement may be reached before the end of this year.

However, Ulrich Walker, head of Daimler's Northeast Asia operations, said the report was just a rumor.

A spokesman from Toyota said he had no knowledge of any talks with Brilliance.

State-owned Brilliance Auto, the parent of Brilliance China Automotive Holding Ltd<1114>, is based in Shenyang, Liaoning Province. China Automotive Co Ltd and Jinbei Automotive Co Ltd are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Brilliance China Auto. BMW Brilliance, the company's joint venture with BMW AG, makes 3-series and 5-series BMW sedans for sale in China.