PSA Opens Powertrain R&D Center

PSA Group is opening a powertrain center of excellence in Carrieres-sous-Poissy, France.

The carmaker is investing €32 million ($36 million) in the facility, which will be used to develop gasoline, diesel and electrified powertrains. The 1.6 million-sq-ft site will house 1,300 employees and 80 test benches to assess the performance of engines and electric motors.

Engineers at the center will work with their counterparts at PSA’s 50:50 joint venture with Japan’s Nidec Corp. on electric motor technology. Formed in December 2017, the venture aims to produce about 900,000 motors per year by 2022 for use in future Peugeot, Citroen, DS and Opel/Vauxhall models.

PSA says it will introduce 15 plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles across the brands by 2021 as part of the company’s plan to offer electrified variants of all its vehicles by 2025.