December 30, 2008-- The Beijing New Energy Auto Design and Manufacture Industry Base was formally settled at the Beiqi Foton Motor Company on December 28.

 

As China's first base for manufacturing autos powered with new and clean energy, the base will play an extensive demonstration and leading role nationwide.

 

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, presented at the launching ceremony and conferred the base plaque to the Beiqi Foton Motor Company.

 

The base, backed by Foton Motor, covers an area of 1,000 mu (around 66.67 hectares), with a total investment of 5 billion yuan and an annual production capacity of 5,000 passenger cars of different types using alternative energy and new energy and 400,000 energy-efficient engines.

 

It owns three world-leading green energy technologies involving clean energy, alternative energy and new energy, and has established four major core design and manufacture engineering centers specializing in hybrid power, full-electric, hydrogen fuel cells and energy efficient engines, which have been widely used in Foton's production of large and medium-sized buses and light, medium and heavy trucks. The products have received favorable market feedback.

 

At present, how to achieve commercialization of new energy vehicles is a common challenge for the world auto industry. The US, Europe and Japan all depend on their governments' financial subsidies to market and promote the new energy vehicles, however, China hasn't put forward such corresponding policies yet.

 

Under the circumstances, Foton Motor, through its own efforts, has taken the lead in creating a healthy development path which combines research & development and marketing of new energy vehicles in the domestic market.

 

In January 2008, the Guangzhou Bus Company purchased 30 Foton hybrid-power passenger cars at one time, making it the biggest deal of new energy vehicles in China at that time.

 

Due to the autos' outstanding performance during actual operation with regard to energy conservation, environmental protection and cost reduction, Foton Motor recently received an additional order of over 200 hybrid-power passenger cars from Guangzhou.

 

In addition, Beijing Public Transport Holdings has also signed a contract with the Foton to purchase nearly 1,000 new energy buses.