French car firm files most patents

PSA Peugeot Citroen filed and received more patents than any other French company last year, according to France’s National Intellectual Property Institute (INPI).

In 2007, the car company put through 921 patents and allocated €1.8bn (3.8 per cent of automobile division sales) to research and development.

Primarily, the patents covered design and manufacturing of automotive equipment, engines, exhaust gas post-treatment systems, car bodies, suspension systems, braking systems and gearboxes.

A new PSA production system was also covered by the patents, including the assembly line delivery methods and systems, handling systems and robotics, and is now being deployed in all the group’s plants.

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