GM News: GM and PSA Announce Four New Co-Developed Platforms

[William Maley]

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William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

October 25, 2012

In a not surprising announcement yesterday, General Motors and PSA Peugeot-Citroen said they will be co-developing four new platforms that are part of the Global Strategic Alliance between the two. The platforms will primarily be for Opel/Vauxhall, Peugeot, and Citroën. Those four platforms are,

• A new low-emissions city car
  
• Midsize car (sedan, hatchback, and wagon)
  
• Small Multi-Purpose vehicle
  
• Joint program for compact MPV for Opel/Vauxhall and a compact CUV for Peugeot
  

GM and PSA say the launch of the first models of this joint venture will happen in 2016.

The two also announced the Global Strategic Alliance will establish a new joint purchasing operation, to help lower costs. This is currently on hold while two wait on antitrust regulatory approval. GM says the alliance could save about $2 billion in five years for the companies.

Source: GM

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

Press Release is on Page 2

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PSA Peugeot Citroën and General Motors Confirm Key Steps

in Global Strategic Alliance

• Four common vehicle platform development projects
  
• Next steps in joint purchasing organization
  
• Synergy target of $2 billion annually confirmed
  

DETROIT/ PARIS/ RUSSELSHEIM – PSA Peugeot Citroen and General Motors today confirmed important steps toward the execution of their Global Strategic Alliance. Consistent with terms of the Master Agreement signed Feb. 29, the Alliance partners have selected four vehicle projects and confirmed the next steps in joint purchasing organization.

Four Common Vehicle Platform Development Projects

The four common vehicle projects selected to move to the next step encompass the following segment entries for both groups:

• A joint program for a compact-class Multi-Purpose Van for Opel/Vauxhall and a compact-class Crossover Utility Vehicle for the Peugeot brand.
  
• A joint Multi-Purpose Vehicle program for the small car segment for Opel/Vauxhall and the Citroen brand.
  
• An upgraded low CO₂ small car segment platform to feed Opel/Vauxhall’s and PSA’s next generation of cars in Europe and other regions.
  
• A joint program for mid-size cars for Opel/Vauxhall and the Peugeot and Citroen brands.
  

The Alliance aims to launch the first vehicles on these common programs by the end of 2016.

All four projects will be developed combining the best platform architectures and technologies from the Alliance partners.

Next Steps in Joint Purchasing Organization

The Alliance partners also confirmed the next steps in their joint purchasing organization. This collaborative effort will draw on the combined purchasing reach of both companies to realize purchasing synergies benefitting both companies. The joint purchasing organization will be subject to customary antitrust approvals.

Synergies Confirmed

Based on the above programs and the joint purchasing organization, both companies confirm the previously stated synergy target of $2 billion annually achievable within five years.

With the common vehicle development projects and next steps in purchasing organization now confirmed, the teams will work to finalize the associated definitive agreements in addition to exploring other cooperation opportunities.

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[G. David Felt]

Seems the merge is on in Europe.

[Drew Dowdell]

This move probably just saved Opel/Vauxhall and possibly even Holden as a brand.

[Z-06]

2016 - That is when EP III should be coming anyways.

[Drew Dowdell]

2016 - That is when EP III should be coming anyways.

Sounds about right. We should get one last refresh out of the current Lacrosse which I believe is the oldest EpsyDos car on the market at the moment. The 2014 EpsyDos is the Impala.

[Z-06]

Yes, Lacrosse was the first EP II car.

[G. David Felt]

But if there is truly a better platform, why not move forward sooner to lead the asian and euro brands rather than equal of follow.

GM needs to truly do everything they can to jump ahead and build up some serious cash.

[Drew Dowdell]

Probably because the platforms aren't done yet. Though I wonder what GM has up their sleeve. I am curious if there is either A) another larger FWD platform hanging around out there we don't know about yet or B) much larger use of alpha than we currently expect or C) much larger use of Omega than we currently expect. I really can't see GM using a Euro sized mid-size platform shared with Citroen to move the Lacrosse up in status or replace Epsydos under the Impala.

[G. David Felt]

Probably because the platforms aren't done yet. Though I wonder what GM has up their sleeve. I am curious if there is either A) another larger FWD platform hanging around out there we don't know about yet or B) much larger use of alpha than we currently expect or C) much larger use of Omega than we currently expect. I really can't see GM using a Euro sized mid-size platform shared with Citroen to move the Lacrosse up in status or replace Epsydos under the Impala.

I wonder if this GM/PSA platform could end up being a global platform on the scale of what VW is doing where you can build a wide range of auto's on it and sell it to less funded companies who want to use it to build their own auto's.

[PONTIAC06]

I wonder if this GM/PSA platform could end up being a global platform on the scale of what VW is doing where you can build a wide range of auto's on it and sell it to less funded companies who want to use it to build their own auto's.

Now that's a thought! If GM and PSA did co-develop something equivalent to VW's MQB platform, it could underpin basically everything from the Sonic to the Malibu/Regal and possibly even the LaCrosse/Impala. Not to mention the next Encore and Theta replacements. Then, hopefully GM would use Alpha which should be flexible enough for several Cadillac's (hopefully the next SRX again), Camaro, and whatever other small RWD vehicles they have worked up.

[Lamar]

2016 - That is when EP III should be coming anyways.

Only an eight-year run for EPII? Seems sudden. But if this is a lightening program, then full speed ahead.

[Robert Hall]

2016 - That is when EP III should be coming anyways.

Only an eight-year run for EPII? Seems sudden. But if this is a lightening program, then full speed ahead.

The Impala is getting it in 2014 and will probably have a 6-10 year run on it, so I'm sure the platform will go well beyond 2016... maybe EpsyDos for the 'larger' FWD models and EpsyTres will be for the smaller higher volume midsizers (Malibu, Regal, Insignia, etc)...

[Drew Dowdell]

2016 - That is when EP III should be coming anyways.

Only an eight-year run for EPII? Seems sudden. But if this is a lightening program, then full speed ahead.

It is one of the heaviest platforms in the class, it needs to be replaced.

[ZL-1]

2016 - That is when EP III should be coming anyways.

Only an eight-year run for EPII? Seems sudden. But if this is a lightening program, then full speed ahead.

It is one of the heaviest platforms in the class, it needs to be replaced.

Yeah, a diet is in order...

[G. David Felt]

I wonder if this GM/PSA platform could end up being a global platform on the scale of what VW is doing where you can build a wide range of auto's on it and sell it to less funded companies who want to use it to build their own auto's.

Now that's a thought! If GM and PSA did co-develop something equivalent to VW's MQB platform, it could underpin basically everything from the Sonic to the Malibu/Regal and possibly even the LaCrosse/Impala. Not to mention the next Encore and Theta replacements. Then, hopefully GM would use Alpha which should be flexible enough for several Cadillac's (hopefully the next SRX again), Camaro, and whatever other small RWD vehicles they have worked up.

If GM can come up with two standardized global platforms that loose weight and offer the right balance of strength, rigidity and flexibility, They could do well then to have this cover their FWD appliances and RWD appliances and then sell it to less funded auto companies who need a diverse platform to build cars on.

[ZL-1]

If GM can come up with two standardized global platforms that loose weight and offer the right balance of strength, rigidity and flexibility, They could do well then to have this cover their FWD appliances and RWD appliances and then sell it to less funded auto companies who need a diverse platform to build cars on.

Yep! I think that how 'co-developed' should be interpreted here: GM does the bulk of the platform engineering work, PSA adapts to their needs.

[G. David Felt]

If GM can come up with two standardized global platforms that loose weight and offer the right balance of strength, rigidity and flexibility, They could do well then to have this cover their FWD appliances and RWD appliances and then sell it to less funded auto companies who need a diverse platform to build cars on.

Yep! I think that how 'co-developed' should be interpreted here: GM does the bulk of the platform engineering work, PSA adapts to their needs.

Add in the merge of Opel into PSA so a reduction of capacity and expense as you go with the global platform that PSA can use to build and sell quality auto's. GM uses to build and sell quality auto's everywhere and the cost goes down allowing more people to afford an auto.