Würzburg, October 1, 2007
EXCLUSIVE 1: BMW/PSA: Second cooperation on ice
BMW and PSA are unlikely to enter into a second engine cooperation. This was confirmed to "Automobil Industrie" by Klaus Dräger, Head of Development at BMW. In December 2006, BMW and PSA published a joint communiqué announcing the examination of a further engine cooperation - with apparently negative results. "At the moment there is a certain reorientation at PSA," Dräger confirmed to "Automobil Industrie": "The project is on ice."
The "Prince" engine developed by BMW, which powers the second generation of the Mini and various PSA models, has been manufactured in Douvrin since 2006. "This is one of our most expensive engines," PSA boss Christian Streiff told "Automobil Industrie". Read more in the cover story "Where is PSA heading?" in "Automobil Industrie" 10/07, which will be published on October 4.
EXCLUSIVE 2: Schefenacker is looking for cooperation partners
Prof. Ulrich Bruhnke, head of the supplier Schefenacker since July, is looking for cooperation partners in order to broaden his position in the mirror business. He also wants to re-evaluate all locations, says Bruhnke in an exclusive interview with "Automobil Industrie". "Today, sensors and sometimes cameras are integrated into mirrors. We are leaders in image processing and camera-based vision. We are talking to partners about further growth opportunities in these areas," says Brunhke.
The former head of Mercedes-AMG and BMW M GmbH has also announced that he will be taking another close look at all plants and development offices: "We will evaluate each location fairly." Bruhnke also wants to reorganize research and development. Following a financial restructuring, a consortium of creditors now owns over 70 percent of the long-established Schefenacker company. Read the exclusive interview in "Automobil Industrie" 10/07, which will be published on October 4.
EXCLUSIVE 3: Valeo head of development announces new technologies
The French supplier Valeo wants to benefit from the CO2 debate with new technologies, says Head of Development Martin Haub in an exclusive interview with "Automobil Industrie". Among other things, Valeo is working on an electric compressor. "We are in the pre-development phase with a technology partner for a new compressor technology," says Haub. This is an electrically driven pump that is used in the lower speed range in addition to the turbo and should work faster than a compressor. Series production is possible from 2012.
Valeo has also been developing the completely electromagnetic valve control system, the so-called "camless" engine without camshaft, for several years. Now there are more details. "We will go into series production with a high-performance series vehicle after 2010," says Haub. Valeo expects to be the world's first supplier of this technology.
Haub also expects a breakthrough for start-stop systems in high-performance vehicles: "I am firmly convinced that the systems will also be used in 6 and 8-cylinder engines." Until now, start-stop systems have been used almost exclusively in compact vehicles. Read the full interview in "Automobil Industrie" 10/07, which will be published on October 4.
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"Automotive Industry"
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