Daimler AG and Tesla have already been in collaboration on a lithium ion battery project. Now, the company has acquired a nearly 10% stake in Tesla. Prof. Herbert Kohler, Daimler’s VP of E-Drive and Future Mobility, will be joining Tesla’s Board of Directors.

“Daimler has set the benchmark for engineering excellence and vehicle quality for more than a century. It is an honor and a powerful endorsement of our technology that Daimler would choose to invest in and partner with Tesla,” said Tesla CEO and Product Architect Elon Musk. “Daimler is also on the leading edge in the field of sustainable mobility. Among others the lithium-ion pouch-cell battery developed by Daimler and especially designed for automotive applications is of interest to us. We are looking forward to a strategic cooperation in a number of areas including leveraging Daimler’s engineering, production and supply chain expertise. This will accelerate bringing our Tesla Model S to production and ensure that it is a superlative vehicle on all levels.” (Source: Daimler)

I wonder if the ‘accelerate’, in this case, means getting the Model S on the streets prior to late 2011/early 2012. Tesla is currently taking reservations for the Model S. A $5,000 refundable deposit will get you on the list for a Tesla Model S in early 2012.

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