Dongfeng Auto starts construction of new EV base

Dongfeng Automobile Co. has confirmed that it has started construction of a new electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing base in Xiangfan, Hubei province, according to a Sinocast report. The project, which involves a planned investment of 650 million yuan (US$95.62 million), is one of the company’s 16 new strategic energy projects and part of its 3 billion yuan (US$441.32 million) five-year investment plan for the development and production of EVs. The plant in Xiangfan will have a production capacity of around 2,000 vehicles and 5,000 chassis in the initial stages during the first half of next year. (August 20, 2010)