FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Thyssenkrupp could seek partnerships for its car parts and plant engineering units if that is the best option to develop them, its chief executive said, adopting a similar approach taken by industrial conglomerate Siemens.

The comments were made after Thyssenkrupp backtracked on a plan to split the group in two and instead proposed a partial listing of its prized elevators unit, a move it hopes will be approved by the supervisory board on May 21.