Audi, Sanyo Enter Hybrid Battery Development Deal
Audi reportedly has inked a deal to work with Japan's Sanyo on development of high performance batteries for a pilot hybrid project for the Volkswagen Group, Audi's owner.
The alliance could lead to Sanyo batteries and other electronic components being used in future Volkswagen group models, British on-line automotive journal just-auto.com suggests.
Volkswagen's own hybrid development program has been scaled down dramatically by chief executive Martin Winterkorn, who thinks the 2,000 euro ($3,092) additional cost to hybridize a vehicle is too steep.
At Audi, there are plans for a hybrid Touareg SUV and a hybrid Q7 crossover. The German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, which initially reported the Sanyo deal, said the partnership could lead to hybrid technologies being used in Audi's passenger cars as well.
John O'Dell, Senior Editor
May 6, 2008 1:34 pm
Categories: Audi | Hybrid | Batteries
