Shanghai (ZXZC)- At the opening ceremony of Beijing New Energy Technology Innovation Center held on December 9, Xu Heyi, President of BAIC Group, said that the group will first restrict and finally ban the sales and production of those self-own branded traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles.

According to the president, BAIC plans to ban the sales of self-own branded traditional vehicles first in Beijing city in 2020. In 2025, the automaker will finally stop the sales and production of those vehicles across China.

In accordance with the government’s guidance, BAIC set up the Beijing New Energy Technology Innovation Center, which is a major step for the group to focus on new energy industry and gain technology advantages in the segment.

There are a total of 15 initiators for this innovation center, covering automakers, battery producers, internet enterprises, scientific research institutions and industrial investment companies. The center will optimize the allocation of global resources to establish an open and inclusive innovation center.

BAIC is the second Chinese automaker which has released the timetable to ban sales of fossil fuel-powered vehicles. On October 19, Changan revealed its Shangri-la Plan and declared to ban sales of traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles in 2025.