Renault, Nissan to produce 'clean' cars for China

French automaker Renault and its Japanese partner Nissan said on Friday they had signed a cooperation accord with China to produce environmentally friendly vehicles.

Wuhan, a major city in central China, will serve as the pilot region for the project.

This is a "first step toward zero-emission vehicles in China," Renault and Nissan said in a statement, with the first models to hit the road in 2011.

Nissan will provide China with its electric vehicle technology and draw up a comprehensive plan to put in all the needed support, including recharging points and a commercial outline.

Nissan will work with the city government in Wuhan, home to nearly 10 million people, on the plan.

Renault-Nissan has launched similar projects in Denmark, Israel, Monaco, Portugal, the United States and Japan.