SAIC set for hybrid production with Roewe 750

CHINESE auto giant Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) is reportedly on track to begin mass-production of its first hybrid car before the end of 2010.

Sources cited in US industry journal Automotive News this week said the petrol-electric powertrain – complete with a hi-tech lithium-ion battery pack – will be installed in the Roewe 750 medium-sized sedan, based on the Rover 75 platform that SAIC bought in 2005.

According to the report, electric-only propulsion will not be available but fuel economy improvements of up to 20 per cent could be achieved compared to the conventional Roewe 750, which is currently available in China with either a 2.5-litre V6 or a 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

The company established a subsidiary in Shanghai last year to develop alternative powertrains, including hybrid and all-electric systems. No timetable has been issued for the latter.