Chery to set up electric car R&D center in Taiwan

Shanghai, November 20 (Gasgoo.com) China's mainland automaker Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. plans to set up an electric vehicle (EV) R&D center in Taiwan. This plan will be announced at the cross-strait auto industry conference next week in Taipei, local media reported.

Chery Auto will locate the R&D center in the scheduled "Green Energy Intelligent Vehicle Innovation Park (EV Park) in central Taiwan, to tap the resources and talents on the island for faster development of electric cars, Taiwan Economic News said, citing industry sources.

This move by Chery Auto is expected to greatly help Taiwan's makers of batteries, motors, control systems, among others, to get on the fast track to the mainland market. Chery's senior executives have visited Taiwan repeatedly and are very impressed with the island's achievements in EV development.

Early this year, Chery tied up with Taiwan's Prince Motors in internal combustion engine (ICE) passenger-car assembly business. Chery has agreed with Shengrong Auto, a subsidiary of Prince Motors, to build Chery's own-brand A3 cars in Taiwan for the local and other markets.

The cross-strait auto industry conference on Nov. 24-25 will be attended by more than 100 executives from the mainland's auto sector. The event will focus on the research and development (R&D) of eco-friendly electric vehicles.