FRANKFURT (Reuters) -- BMW said its managers have met with executives from Tesla Motors to discuss ways to promote the use of electric cars.
Both BMW and Tesla and are seeking ways to raise the popularity of battery-powered cars among consumers, who have been deterred by their limited range and the time it takes the cars to recharge.
"Both companies are strongly committed to the success of electromobility and discussed how to further strengthen the development of electromobility on an international level," a BMW spokesman said today in a statement.
BMW said the meeting had taken place on Wednesday but declined to comment in detail about the nature of the talks, or about which BMW executives had met with Tesla.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Thursday that there have been talks with other carmakers, including BMW, about how to promote the use of electric vehicles and how to make better use of its network of German charging stations, which the U.S. carmaker operates together with rail company Deutsche Bahn.
German premium automakers have been keen to collaborate with Tesla. In January, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said the German maker of Mercedes-Benz cars was open to deepening its partnership with the U.S. firm
Daimler holds a 4.3 percent stake in Tesla, which is already supplying it with electric motors and batteries for its Smart ForTwo electric vehicle and the new Mercedes-Benz B-class EV.
Last month, Bloomberg reported that Toyota will end its deal to buy battery packs and electric motors from Tesla for the Toyota RAV4 EV. Toyota has a 2.4 percent stake in Tesla.
