Not more than three days after Reuters reported that Suzuki and Volkswagen “resumed talks about how to resolve a dispute about a partnership deal,” a new report has now been released that denies the claims. Also posted by the German news agency, it quotes the words of Executive Vice President Toshihiro Suzuki, who seems pretty adamant about the whole thing.
He explained that he was aware that “there have been various reports,” but added “there are absolutely no such facts.”
The two automakers were believed to be in “talks at board level,” over a possible new attempt at making the alliance they failed to materialize two years ago into a real deal. I think they are interacting at board level, but more so in order to resolve their past differences (the “20 percent problem” Suzuki had with VW back in 2011), than to actually form some kind of partnership.
In addition, while it may appear to do Suzuki some good to team up with the Germans, the fourth-largest Japanese manufacturer is actually not doing that badly. In fact, they posted record operating profits in the April to June period, and are expecting that by the end of the current fiscal year, they will be left with 10 percent more cash than last year.
Besides, the notion that outside help is needed always can be argued as there are examples that it’s not the only way to go. Mazda has followed its own path, and up until now, it’s doing well – I think their cars are much better than in the Ford era, showing off the brand’s unique values and their way of doing things, so therefore the end product is purer, if that makes any sense…
By Andrei Nedelea
PHOTO GALLERY
