WSJ: Daimler Plans to Start Smart Electric Vehicle Pilot Program in China Next Year
By Scott Doggett December 14, 2009
Daimler AG plans to start a pilot program for an electric version of its Smart ForTwo minicar in China next year, The Wall Street Journal reported today.
Daimler is currently considering which cities to test the cars in, said Ulrich Walker, chairman of Daimler Northeast Asia, in a year-end briefing with reporters. "We have to see the acceptance of this car," he said. Daimler currently sells the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid in China.
The move follows an announcement by the central government last week that it will subsidize private purchases of alternative-energy vehicles in five cities.
Daimler has now joined a growing list of automakers evaluating the potential for next-generation clean-energy vehicles in the world's biggest automobile market.
Nissan Motor Co. said in November it plans to test-market its Leaf electric car in China in 2011 by making it available to government agencies and other fleet customers in the city of Wuhan. Moreover, the Japanese automaker said recently that it was considering building an electric-car factory in Guangzhou.
General Motors Co. intends to launch the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle Chevrolet Volt in China, starting in 2011. The Volt is powered by an electric motor that receives electricity from a lithium-ion battery pack that in addition to receiving electricity from its plug receives electricity from an on board gasoline engine-generator.
Toyota Motor Corp. has also said it will likely test-market a plug-in hybrid in China.
VW, which is the No. 1 carmaker in China, recently acquired an ownership stake in Suzuki and intends to give the Japanese automaker technology to make electric cars. It's possible VW Group will attempt to profit from EV sales in China through Suzuki, which has an impressive record of making small cars profitably.
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