BERLIN (Reuters) – Volkswagen is speaking with potential partners, including France’s Renault, about cooperating on the development of its 20,000-euro ($21,476) electric car, the Handelsblatt daily reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The German carmaker is interested in cooperating on a platform for the car that it hopes will make battery-powered vehicles affordable for the masses, Handelsblatt reported.
Handelsblatt cited the sources as saying talks with Renault are still “at a very early stage” and could come to nothing.
Annual production of 200,000 to 250,000 vehicles is the target for both partners together, according to Handelsblatt.
Volkswagen did not comment on the report.
The carmaker laid out the details in March of an all-electric car under development for 25,000 euros, to launch by 2025 with a 450 kilometre (279 mile) range and a battery charging from 10% to 80% in around 20 minutes.
The company had said at the time it was also working on a 20,000-euro vehicle, but did not provide further information.
($1 = 0.9313 euros)
(Reporting by Nette Noestlinger; Writing by Miranda Murray; editing by Matthias Williams and Louise Heavens)
