Late last year, it provoked a row between the French and German governments, when, amid mounting losses, it pulled out of Germany's Mobilcom.

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By standardising the parameters of certain components, such as the mounting points of engines, the German carmaker hopes to be able to produce all its models on the same production line.

ECONOMIST: A third industrial revolution

Inflationary pressures are mounting in Europe's leading economies with figures published on Friday showing German consumer prices were 3% higher last month than a year ago.

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