Magna teams with Swiss firm BRUSA for electric cars

GENEVA, March 4 (Reuters) - Canadian auto parts giant Magna International MGa.TO will collaborate with BRUSA Elektronik of Switzerland to develop electric and hybrid vehicle applications, the two companies said in a joint statement on Wednesday.

Magna is already working together with Ford Motor Co (F.N) to bring a lithium ion battery-powered car to North America in 2011 on a Focus-sized platform, as automakers and suppliers jostle to gain the lead in a key technology for emission-free driving.

Magna Electronics, which specialises in market segments like driver assistance and intelligent power systems, among others, will team up with BRUSA, a company with a staff of 50 based near St. Gallen that develops and manufactures electrical vehicle technology.

"With this collaboration, Magna Electronics has another strong partner in the field of electric and hybrid vehicles," said Matthias Arleth, Vice President Magna Electronics Europe.

BRUSA said that after more than 20 years, its products bore a very high degree of maturity.

"Now the time has come to turn these innovative technologies, together with a strong partner, into competitive volume products in order to support the market breakthrough of electric vehicles," said Josef Brusa, president of the company. (Reporting by Christiaan Hetzner; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)