Peugeot, BMW join forces on EVs

Peugeot Citroën and BMW are moving forward on a joint project for electric vehicles.

It has been a year after the two companies inked a memorandum of agreement, and now they are launching the BMW Peugeot Citroën Electrification, leading to the creation of essential conditions for the fast implementations of common goals. Production of hybrid components needed for the electrification of the car models of both carmakers is also scheduled to commence in 2015.

Here’s what Wolfgang Güllich, chairman of the managing board of the joint venture, said about this:

“The BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroën are following a joint path with clear and ambitious goals. We want our company to be one of the leading suppliers in the field of electric powertrains over the next years.”

The two firms are putting in over €100 million in the joint venture. About 400 employees will work at Munich’s new Research and Development Center by the end of this year, most of whom are engineers who are specializing in electronics and electro-mobility. Upon the completion of ramp-up, about 250 employees will be working at a facility in Mulhouse, France, where the hybrid components will be designed.

The joint venture will include the development and production of all essential parts for electric powertrains, which include high-voltage batteries, power electronics, electric motors, generators, energy management software and loading units.

Thanks to an open technology platform, the venture will also be able to integrate suppliers into the purchasing and development process, as well as sell the hybrid parts it manufactures to third parties.

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