Siemens and Alstom to merge railway operations – Germans give up on cooperation with Bombardier

The German industrial conglomerate Siemens has selected France's Alstom instead of Canada's Bombardier to establish joint railway operations thanks to strong financial foundations and the company's management team, Joe Kaeser, President and CEO of Siemens AG, said today.

– I must say I'm very glad we've reached an agreement. We are creating a new European champion in the rail industry for the long term – Kaeser said.

Alstom, the producer of French TGV trains, and Germany's Siemens, as stated, would merge their railway businesses in order to create “a new European champion”, big enough to surpass the global leader CRRC from China.

France's Alstom, controlled by the state, called the merger with its French competitor “a key moment in Alstom’s history”, adding that the headquarters of the new group would be located in Paris and that Siemens would have a stake of 50% in the new entity.

Unnamed sources previously stated that Siemens was close to reaching an agreement with Canada's Bombardier, but that the negotiations were difficult due to the weak finances of the Canadian company and its desire to control the potential joint company.

Siemens AG Munich

Alstom Francuska

Bombardier Transportation Québec

Siemens

Bombardier

Joe Kaeser

railway industry

TGV

CRRC China

Siemens Alstom merger