Oct 30 (Reuters) - Shares of Azure Dynamics jumped as much as 27 percent Friday morning, after U.S. automaker Ford Motor said it would use electric drive trains made by Azure in its battery electric powered Transit Connect light work vans.
Azure Dynamics, which makes hybrid electric components and power train systems, will partner Ford to launch the battery electric version of Transit Connect in the United States and Canadian markets in 2010, Ford said in a statement.
Azure will integrate its Force Drive battery electric drive train in the Transit Connect van for commercial fleet and retail use, Ford said.
Earlier on Friday, Smith Electric Vehicles, a unit of Britain's Tanfield Group Plc, and Ford agreed to terminate their collaboration on the Transit Connect project. Smith said the forecast volumes did not justify the investment requirement.
Shares of Azure Dynamics were up 4 Canadian cents at 30 Canadian cents Friday morning on the Toronto Stock Exchange. They hit a high of 33 Canadian cents earlier in the session.

(Reporting by Ashutosh Joshi in Bangalore; Editing by Pradeep Kurup) Keywords: AZUREDYNAMICS/ (ashutosh.joshi@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 4135 5800; Reuters Messaging: ashutosh.joshi.reuters.com@reuters.net)

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