Is the Tesla Motors deal just an interim solution for Daimler until the Germany car maker can start getting lithium-ion battery packs from its joint venture with Evonik?

That was what it sounded like in a post on Green Car Congress yesterday where Daimler’s spokesman Matthias Brock said this:

"he agreement with Tesla "helps us to bridge the time until the industrialization of lithium-ion batteries within our joint venture with Evonik will be ready," Brock told Green Car Congress.

Brock’s comment cast a different light to the Tesla announcement by CEO Elon Musk, who described the deal more as the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Musk said his San Carlos, Calif.-based company will build battery packs and chargers for about 1,000 Daimler’s all-electric Smart cars, and the deal could expand if all goes well.

I asked Brock about his comment, and he emailed me back today to say, “We are promoting the industrialization of li-ion batteries in our joint venture with Evonik in parallel. This doesn’t exclude further agreements with Tesla Motors.�

It makes sense for Daimler to rely more heavily if not exclusively on the battery packs that will be produced by the joint venture. The company announced the joint venture last December, and it holds a 90 percent share of the joint venture. In fact, Daimler said back then that it would like to eventually sell battery cells and systems to other companies as well.

Heck, Daimler could be selling battery cells to Tesla. Musk told Reuters this week that he would consider buying from Evonik if Evonik makes better products.

Tesla is currently selling its $109,000 Roadsters, and plans to begin shipping its second electric car mode, the Model S, in 2011. The company recently had trouble raising the necessary money to build Model S, so finding new ways to generate revenues is critical for the company's survival. Tesla's spokeswoman Rachel Konrad said the company is actively looking to sell its powertrain technology.