Dalian to introduce 100 Chery A5 hybrids into city taxi fleet

Shanghai, July 21 (Gasgoo.com) Chery Automobile Co. Ltd. has reached an agreement with Dalian municipal government in Northeast China's Liaoning province to introduce 100 its own A5 hybrid cars into the city's taxi fleet, reports Shanghai Securities Journal on Monday.

Chery spokesman Jin Yibo told reporters that this is the second order of its kind Chery has received from local authorities. Last December 150 Chery A5 BSG units were delivered to Wuhu government, where Chery is based, to serve as city taxis.

Jin said A5 BSG are priced at 74,800 yuan ($10,951), about less than half the price of Toyota Prius, Honda Civic and Buick Lacrosse hybrid sold in Chinese market. He added the A5 BSG will save cab drivers some 3,600 yuan a year in fuel expenses.

In separate story, Chinese battery manufacturer and automaker BYD Co said on July 15 that the Shenzhen government had agreed to buy 30 BYD's F3DM hybrid units for city taxi fleet.