General Motors and the SAIC Motor
have reached an agreement to explore oppo rtunities for the local application
and production of energy-efficient and environmentally clean vehicles
in China. The two partners will explore the expansion of the current GM-Allison-SAIC
hybrid demo bus programme announced last October to a larger bus fleet
for Shanghai's mass transportation system in advance of the 2010 World
Expo in Shanghai.
GM and SAIC will also pursue passenger car hybrid options as well as other clean-energy vehicle applications including hydrogen fuel cell technologies for China’s relevant vehicle platforms. The goal is to have available a number of different models designed to meet the different needs of China's consumers. The introduction of locally manufactured vehicles is targeted to be available beginning in 2008.
According to Rick Wagoner, the two companies have the technical advantage of their Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) joint venture in Shanghai. The well established, eight year old local engineering and design centre will be responsible for hybrid system application engineering and integration in vehicles.
PATAC’s designers, engineers and technicians will be involved in a number of hybrid programmes applicable to vehicles manufactured by Shanghai GM. They will build complete demonstration vehicles, assessing various hybrid concepts for near-term production and developing local competency in regenerative braking, electric power steering and high-voltage battery systems.
Many of these technologies may have direct application in the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which both GM and SAIC believe is the ultimate solution to taking the motor vehicle out of the environmental equation, guaranteeing energy security and enabling a greater number of people to have access to environmentally clean personal transportation.
“To make this happen, we need to bring down costs and build the necessary infrastructure – and the best way to do that is by business and government working together,” said GM chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner.
“The collaboration between SAIC and GM brings together the best resources that our two countries and their two industry leaders have to offer,” Wagoner added. “As a company with a major stake in China, GM believes that we must focus on the industry of tomorrow. By working together, we can help take China one step closer to the era of sustainable transportation.”
“SAIC Motor will focus on technology and innovation in the development of clean energy vehicles,” said SAIC chairman Hu Maoyuan. “We will work closely with research institutions to promote actively the development of key technologies. We also attach great importance to co-operation with our joint venture partner. By further strengthening our partnerships and enabling our joint ventures to play a major role in the development process, we hope to get clean energy vehicles to the market at the earliest possible date."
The announcement builds on an earlier agreement signed by GM and SAIC in Shanghai on 30 Oct, 2004 for the development and commercialisation of clean energy vehicles. The agreement includes a series of joint programmes to promote hydrogen fuel cells and other advanced vehicle technologies.
As part of the earlier agreement, GM and SAIC have launched a local demonstration of the HydroGen3, GM’s first fuel cell vehicle to go into commercial operation. The local HydroGen3 made its debut in September. The two companies are also planning to engage in discussions around infrastructure development and in dialogue around relevant standards and regulations.
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