Expected to employ around 400 staff, mainly engineers in electromobility and electronics, by the end of 2011, the centre will develop drivetrain technology which will be manufactured at a plant in Mulhouse, France, due to open in 2015.

BMW and PSA Peugeot-Citroën have each invested £87.1m (€100m) in the project, which extends their existing drivetrain partnership established in 2002. The two manufacturers have since worked together to develop four-cylinder engines for MINI, Peugeot and Citroen vehicles, and the partnership was extended in February 2010 to produce the next generation units.