BMW would continue to conduct researches on hybrid vehicles if its joint venture PSA/Peugeot-Citroen breaks up. The German carmaker is currently holding discussions with its French partner over a possible breakup of their joint venture named BPC Electrification. According to French daily newspaper La Tribune, BMW plans to acquire PSA’s 50 percent stake in BPCE as the German automaker seeks to retain the joint venture in its fold. BMW and PSA established BPCE in October 2011 with aims to develop, purchase and produce electric powertrains and components. The joint venture comprises a research and development center in Munich, Germany as well as a manufacturing plant in Mulhouse, France, where 250 employees will be hired to electrify about 10,000 vehicles starting in 2015. Micaela Sandstede, a spokeswoman for BMW, told Bloomberg in a phone interview that it is still undecided whether the joint venture’s employees will be absorbed by the German carmaker in the process, adding that the company is still in talks over the “dismantling” of BPCE. Following General Motors’ acquisition of a 7-percent stake in PSA, the French carmaker and its German partner said on June 21, 2012, that they were looking at BPCE’s future.
BMW to continue hybrid-vehicle research if PSA joint venture breaks up
by Gerald Ferreira, Email, 10 Jul, 2012
BMW ActiveHybrid 3
