Beiqi Foton sets up first renewable energy vehicle base in Beijing

Commercial vehicle manufacturer Beiqi Foton Motor Co., Ltd. has set up China’s first renewable energy vehicle design and manufacturing base in Beijing in December. Covering an area of 66.67 hectares and a total investment of five billion yuan (US$730 million), the base is designed to produce 5,000 passenger cars powered by alternative and renewable energy, as well as produce 400,000 high-power but fuel-efficient engines per year. Currently, Beiqi Foton has four design and manufacturing engineering centers for hybrid and electric cars, hydrogen battery, and high-power energy-saving engines, to serve the company’s large, and medium passenger cars, and light-, medium-, and heavy-duty trucks. (December 30, 2008)