China’s FAW Plans Hybrid, Battery EV Launch

China’s FAW Group reveals plans for an array of independently developed alternative-energy vehicles, including a plug-in hybrid-electric and a battery-electric vehicle under the auto maker’s Besturn brand.

FAW Chairman Xu Jianyi tells the government’s Xinhua news agency the company will stick to the strategy of developing both hybrid and EVs.

“The company will invest RM9.8 billion ($1.53 billion) in the next five years to develop and build eight new-energy vehicle production platforms,” Xu says.

FAW plans to develop 13 new-energy passenger-car models and three commercial-vehicle models during the period, he says.

The auto maker will produce 10,000 units of new-energy vehicles this year.

FAW engineer Li Jun tells the news agency the plug-in hybrid model consumes 60% less gasoline than a traditional car.

The PHEV can drive about 44 miles (70 km) on a single electricity charge, while the EV can run 111 miles (170 km) on a single charge.