Auto firm builds China's first new energy automobile base

31 December 2008

Chinese automaker Beiqi Foton Motor Co has set up a new energy automobile design and manufacturing base in Beijing, the first of its kind in the country.

Wan Gang, vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the minister of science and technology, together with Guo Jinlong, the mayor of Beijing, inaugurated the centre.

The base covers an area of 66.67 hectares (1,000 mu), with a total investment of five billion yuan and can annually manufacture 5,000 new energy vehicles and 400,000 energy-efficient engines.

Currently, Foton owns three  green energy technologies comprising clean energy, alternative energy and new energy and has four core design and manufacturing centres specialiaing in hybrid power, pure electric power and hydrogen fuel cell, and energy-efficient engines, which have already be implemented in Foton's buses and heavy trucks.

Earlier this year Foton sold 30 of its hybrid-power passenger cars to Guangzhou Bus Co, making it the biggest sale of new energy vehicles in China. Based on the performance of the vehicles, Guangzhou Bus has now placed a new order of over 200 hybrid-power passenger cars.

Foton energy-efficient vehicles have performed well during actual operations with regard to energy conservation, environmental protection and cost reduction, which has given it repeat orders from clients like Guangzhou Bus Co.