Opel, PSA Could Swap Production on Van, Car

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

Under the plan, PSA would produce Opel's next-generation Zafira at its factory in Sochaux, France, according to the French newspaper. Opel currently makes the Zafira at its Bochum plant, which is expected to close by year-end.

In return, Opel would assemble the Citroen C3 Picasso minivan at its plant in Zaragoza, Spain. PSA currently makes the Picasso in Slovakia.

Les Echos says there is a significant hurdle: 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.