Renault Nissan Zero Emission Partnership Expands to China

The alliance formed by the two manufacturers to advance zero-emission mobility by promoting the development of an electric vehicle (EV) and the required charging network has know reached the Chinese cities, as the two partners signed a deal with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China (MIIT).

The terms of the agreement state that Nissan will provide MIIT with electric vehicle (EV) information and forward a plan which will include a possible battery-charging network and programs for mass marketing all electric vehicles. In turn, the Chinese side will launch a pilot program of new energy mass transport to take place in 13 cities.

Nissan also signed an agreement with the Wuhan municipal government (the first pilot city in the program) for zero emission mobility. which will go into effect planning after the Memorandum of Understanding was signed.

"Nissan believes that zero emissions are the ultimate direction for alternative energy vehicles. We are establishing innovative partnerships with governments, cities and agencies to promote EVs worldwide, and in China we will work closely with our local partners to develop the EV market," Toshiyuki Shiga, Nissan chief operating officer said in a release.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance already started these kind of initiatives in European countries like France, Portugal, Switzerland, Denmark, the Principality of Monaco, also in the United States, Israel and Japan.

The first electric vehicles made by the Renault-Nissan Alliance will arrive in China in early 2011, while in 2012 Nissan and Renault will mass-market electric vehicles globally.