BMW has confirmed that it plans to cooperate with General Motors on new technologies and details are expected to be announced after next month’s Detroit motor show.
“We’re holding talks with GM on various new technologies,” a spokesman told Reuters, without disclosing any further details.
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The weekly magazine WirtschaftsWoche speculated the agreement would focus on fuel cells with GM prepared to share its research in return for additional funding from BMW.
At the recent Tokyo show, BMW announced it had signed a partnership agreement with Toyota covering next-generation batteries for electric and hybrid cars and diesel engines.
The industry can expect many more such partnerships, according to analysis published earlier this month by engineering consultancy Ricardo and investment bank Sanford C Bernstein which concluded that petrol and diesel engine cars will remain the first choice for the majority of motorists well into the 2020s but carmakers would need to have a range of electric and hybrid cars to meet emissions targets.
Since hybrids and EVs will not sell in enough volume for manufacturers to recoup their development costs, carmakers will be forced to work together, said Stefanie Lang of Bernstein.
