Opel Ponders Cross-Production with PSA

General Motors Co.'s Opel unit and PSA Peugeot Citroen are discussing a plan to produce vehicles for each other, according to Les Echos.

The plan would make Opel's next-generation Zafira small van at PSA's factory in Sochaux, France, according to the French newspaper. The Zafira currently is produced at Opel's Bochum plant, which is scheduled to close by year-end.

Production of the Citroen C3 Picasso three-row MPV would move from PSA's plant in Trnava, Slovakia, to Opel's van plant in Zaragoza, Spain. The latter facility currently builds the Meriva small minivan and Corsa subcompact and will add the Mokka small SUV next year.

Les Echos says one hurdle is that GM"s Chinese-market partner SAIC Motor Corp. Ltd. opposes PSA's use of GM's midsize platform. SAIC considers PSA a rival in China.

GM paid $418 million last year to acquire a 7% stake in PSA as part of a joint purchasing and vehicle development alliance.