That is the hope behind an alliance between PSA Peugeot Citroen and General Motors entered into early this year.

BBC: Will carmaker alliances result in identikit cars?

In July, PSA Peugeot Citroen announced the loss of 8, 000 jobs and a plan to close a factory in Aulnay, outside Paris.

BBC: Car firms axe jobs as European demand slumps

French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen is also struggling amid Europe's economic downturn.

BBC: Ford confirms plans to close Belgian factory

French automaker PSA, the parent of Peugeot and Citroen, and now a partner with GM, is facing its own crisis.

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