SAIC Motor to make hybrid cars with US technologies

Chinese automobile tycoon Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC) said that it is designing an oil-electric hybrid car model through the introduction of related technologies from A123 Systems and Delphi Corp., two American manufacturers of batteries and auto parts, respectively. Similar to the Honda Motor Co.’s Civic hybrid, SAIC Motor’s new product is expected to hit the domestic market in 2010 at the earliest.Advanced Lithium iron phosphate batteries and Delphi’s mild hybrid system will be introduced into the SAIC Motor-branded oil-electric hybrid. Hybrid car models in China, including the Honda Civic and Prius, which is designed by Toyota Motor Co., are mostly imported from abroad. Thus, the government is encouraging local carmakers focus on electric vehicles and other green vehicles.(April 2/3, 2009)