Green transport unites Chinese car giants

China's largest car manufacturers have joined forces to launch a research and development team focused on producing electric vehicle powertrains and components, according to a report from the Green Car Congress.

The group, called T10 Electric Vehicles, consists of SAIC Motor, FAW Group, Dongfeng Auto, Changan Auto, Guangzhou Auto, Beijing Auto, Brilliance Auto, Chery Auto, Sinotruk Group and Jianghuai Auto.

T10 Electric Vehicles already conducted its first meeting in Beijing at the end of July 2009. It is hoped the collaboration will bring about reductions in R&D costs for the ten-strong group.

If successful, the team could emerge as a serious competitor to the leading China-based car and battery maker BYD.

Concerns have been raised by some industry experts, however, that electric vehicle supply could soon leap ahead of consumer demand.

J.D. Power and Associates analyst Mike Omotoso told Reuters: "The price of gas needs to go up significantly before there's more demand for electric vehicles, whether in China, here, or anywhere else."

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