Daimler mulls Jaguar and Land Rover cooperation

Sun May 4, 2008 1:02pm BST

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FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Daimler (DAIGn.DE) Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche would be interested in a cooperation with carmakers Jaguar and Land Rover, according to a report in a German trade magazine.

Zetsche could envision supplying the two brands with components, auto motor und sport quoted him as saying in comments published on Sunday.

Jaguar and Land Rover are owned by India's Tata Motors Ltd (TAMO.BO), who acquired the two automakers from Ford Motor Co (FO.N) for $2.3 billion (1.16 billion pounds) in March.

Daimler owns around 7 percent in the Indian company.

"If (chairman) Ratan Tata would approach us in regard to supplying components, we would be open to talks," Zetsche said, adding Daimler had no plans to increase its stake in Tata.

Zetsche also said the company would take a decision on a production site in eastern Europe for its new A and B class compact cars in May or June.

(Reporting by Nicola Leske)

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