This text was not translated, because it is originally in English
In a further sign of the straitened and more realistic times in the automotive industry, Germanys BMW and Frances PSA Peugeot Citroen has furthered their power train collaboration to pool resources for hybrid and electric cars. The two already share engines used in the Mini and Peugeot-Citroen models.

The pair intend to create a shared set of components for vehicle electrification including batteries, motors and generators, power electronics and chargers and the software required to run hybrid systems.

A memorandum of understanding was signed by the two manufacturers last October that envisions the 50/50 business, called BMW Peugeot Citroen, that will be equipping vehicles from 2014. Chief executive will be Wolfgang Güllich, BMWs head of purchasing strategy.

On the surface this might appear to be a pragmatic decision based on pure business strategy, but is there more to this than meets the eye?

Prior to the financial global meltdown a few years back that pushed the motor industry to the brink, there was speculation in Europe that the big OEMs like VAG were attracting unwelcome, to them, interest from corporate raiders who could see the profits in taking over, say VAG, and then splitting up the group to sell off constituent parts for a mighty profit.

Now, both PSA and BMW are family owned businesses and the current generation is happy to maintain that dynastic control. But what of future generations, might they want to sell the family silver and run, enjoying the profits?

Europe is well used to the idea of royalty using marriage to cement alliances to prevent take over by unfriendly rivals.

Could this second marriage between the ruling PSA and BMW families be a means of preventing that happening?