Shanghai (ZXZC)- SAIC HONGYAN, a heavy-duty truck subsidiary of SAIC Motor, on Jan. 14 celebrated the start of production at its vehicle manufacturing plant in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with the first-batch vehicles rolling off the production line at the same time, according to a post on SAIC Motor's WeChat account.

SAIC HONGYAN's Ordos plant starting production; photo credit: SAIC Motor

The latest move means that a phased achievement has been made for the world's first project aiming at the industrial application of 10,000 fuel cell heavy trucks, said SAIC Motor.

Covering a floorage of 10,000 square meters, the new plant will be built into a base integrating functions of assembly, testing, and delivery of new energy heavy-duty trucks. It is designed to feature a production capacity of 3,000 vehicles per year.

According to the timeline given by SAIC Motor, the Shanghai-based auto giant struck a deal with Ordos municipal government on Jul. 20, 2021 for the investment in projects about new energy vehicle (NEV)-related industrial chain.

Then in mid-Oct. last year, SAIC HONGYAN broke ground on the hydrogen-powered heavy-duty truck manufacturing factory in Ordos.

SAIC HONGYAN will better meet the market demands for new energy heavy-duty trucks by virtue of the joint efforts of its plants in Ordos and Chongqing.

A Shanghai-led city cluster was appointed one of the first batches of FCV demonstration cities in China. Notably, Ordos is included in the cluster.