Intrigued by BMW's carbon-fiber parts, Tesla CEO Elon Musks tells a newspaper his company is in talks with the German auto manufacturer about a deal to partner on the development of batteries and lightweight components.
In German-language newspaper Der Spiegel, Musk revealed the talks between his company and BMW.
"We are talking about whether we can collaborate in battery technology or charging stations," Reuters reports Musk stating in the interview.
Beyond Musk revealing what his company and BMW have been discussing, there have been no specifics on what the deal would entail. The pair are said to have been in discussions since June, though Kathrin Schira, a spokewoman for Tesla's German division, says the talks, thus far, have been casual and haven't come to "formal cooperation.
During the Der Spiegel interview, Musk also revealed that he expects to open a battery fabrication plant in Germany within the next six years. But while Tesla explores ways to improve the range and charging times of its vehicles, Jeff Gundlach, Doubleline founder and CEO, sees the electric vehicle manufacture's innovations as having the potential to improve the quality of society well beyond the motoring public.
"Tesla is all about the batteries," Gundlach said in a recent interview. "I think they could almost change society if they pursue battery technology that can get houses off the grid."
Gundlach previously stated that Tesla could even consider leaving the auto industry and focusing solely on developing batteries. With the EV manufacturer working to create its own battery-production facility in Nevada, Tesla could establish long-term contracts to deliver its batteries to automakers, Gundlach stated.
"If I was Elon Musk, I might go to all the other auto companies and say, 'I'll make you a deal: I'll get out of the car business, but let's set up a long-term deal on you buying my batteries,' " stated Gunlach back in July.
Tesla is on track to build its battery-production facility outside Reno after Nevada's bid to bring in the gigafactory beat out incentives offers from Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Nevada offered Tesla incentives that include two decades free of sales tax on equipment, 10 years without property taxes, 10 years of discounted taxes on payroll, $8 million in breaks on electricity and $195 million in tax credits through the adaptation of a program designed to encourage film producers. Nevada also gave the EV manufacturer 980 acres for the gigafactory and authorized Tesla to sell cars directly.
Along with creating 6,500 jobs in the state, Tesla is donating $37.5 million to local public schools and $1 million to battery research at the University of Nevada.
