Shanghai (ZXZC)- Chinese largest automaker SAIC Motor announced on July 20 it has inked an agreement with Inner Mongolia's Ordos municipal government for the investment in projects about new energy vehicle (NEV)-related industrial chain.

Photo credit: SAIC Motor

According to the agreement, during the 14th five-year plan period (2021-2025), SAIC Motor and its subsidiaries, SAIC Hongyan and SHPT (Shanghai Hydrogen Propulsion Technology Co., Ltd.), will pour a total of 2 billion yuan ($308.861 million) in the building of an industrial chain for fuel cell-powered heavy-duty trucks in Ejin Horo Banner, Ordos city. All parties will co-work on the project for the industrialized application of around 10,000 fuel cell heavy-duty trucks with the first 500 vehicles to be handed over this year.

SAIC Motor said there are opulent coal, oil and gas resources, massive modern coal and chemical projects, as well as abundant industrial byproduct hydrogen resources in Ordos. The city is vigorously pushing ahead with the building of hydrogen energy industrial chain and relevant industrial usage, aiming to construct China's biggest base for the production of green hydrogen and the application of fuel-cell heavy-duty trucks.

SAIC Motor has rolled out a number of fuel cell-powered PV and CV models, covering sedans, MPVs, light buses, light-duty trucks, and heavy-duty trucks, which have been put into commercial operation in 13 cities across China. Of those, the Roewe 950 FCV and the Maxus were the first fuel cell sedan and MPV model included in the MIIT's catalogue.