Just a few days back, we brought you the news that Daimler was looking for opportunities to invest in Italian motorcycle manufacturer, MV Agusta.
You might remember that Daimler CFO Bodo Uebber stated that it has no plans to make large acquisitions, but might look into small ones.
Well, that’s true, because Daimler has just bought a 25 percent stake in MV Agusta. Thanks to the acquisition, it now has a seat on the board of the world’s most revered name in motorcycling.
Speaking to Reuters, Daimler stated that MV Agusta’s motorbike engines are unlikely to be used in its Mercedes passenger cars any time soon – however tougher anti-pollution rules have increased interest among carmakers in the lightweight construction technology and compact engines, which could be used as “range extender” add-ons to complement electric engines in hybrid vehicles.
According to the official press release, it is not Daimler itself, but actually the Mercedes-AMG division that’s going to be working with MV Agusta in a “long-term partnership,” including coordinated marketing and sales. The automaker is also appointing a member to the motorcycle company’s board of directors.