Automotive: four innovative projects in Lorraine

Research and innovation have a great place in the automobile industry in Lorraine. Presentation of four innovative projects undergoing industrialization:

► PSA Peugeot Citroën: an ecological engine developed in Lorraine

PSA Peugeot Citroën is preparing to anticipate the 2014 Euro 6 environmental standard by launching its new 3-cylinder gasoline engine developed and industrialized at the Trémery site in Moselle. Its design required an investment of 255 million euros.

► The first electric Smart made in Lorraine

It is “for two” and emits no polluting gas. Currently being developed at the Smartville assembly plant in Hambach, the Smart ED is fully electric. The battery is recharged in 3 hours on a simple domestic plug. Smart plans the installation in cities of reloading terminals geolocalisable by GSM.

► Innovative steering rack at ThyssenKrupp

ThyssenKrupp is investing 30.3 million euros in an innovative electric power steering rack project. Produced in Moselle, this new system equips the Mercedes E Class. ThyssenKrupp Presta is the world leader in steering columns with 15% of world production in Lorraine.

► The new generation of Renault Master manufactured in Lorraine

The assembly lines of the Sovab factory in Batilly (Meurthe-et-Moselle): it is there that since 1980 generations of Master utilities succeed one another. The new Master, the X62, replaces its predecessor the X70 since April 2010. The Renault Master remains the leader in its field with 21.2% of the French market share of commercial vehicles.