Swatch plans return to automotive technology

20th March 2007

Swatch Group chairman Nicolas Hayek has told a Swiss paper, Blick, that Swatch has developed a new hybrid fuel system for cars, and is close to finalising negotiations with unnamed companies in the automotive industry on a project that may be launched in a matter of months. Mr Hayek originally developed the concept that led to the current smart fourtwo city car, which Swatch initially co-developed with DaimlerChrysler, before the latter took over entire control of the project, which was first intended by Hayek to use a less conventional powertrain.