"Beijing" brand to unveil focus on EV

Beijing Automobile Works Co., Ltd. has taken a big action in the field of new energy.

It is reported that Beijing Automobile Works Co., Ltd has quietly registered his own new energy company in Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce, whose full name is Beijing Automobile New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd. This subsidiary company will be formally introduced to the market by the end of October and early November, which is owned wholly by Beiqi. At the same time, an another company will be set up in charge of manufacturing batteries and motors, which will be joint venture between Beiqi and a domestic company.

Sohu Auto writes, according to Lin Yi, deputy chief engineer, executive vice dean of Beijing Automobile General Research Institute, this company will be responsible for research, development, production and sale of new energy vehicles and key parts of Beijing Automobile Works Co., Ltd. The base has already been decided to build in Caiyu Development Zone in Daxing, and the factories are under construction. The development orientation is mainly focused on pure electric vehicles. Lin Yi is responsible for the preparation, who is the team leader of the preparatory group of Beiqi new energy vehicles. He also discloses that the own car brand "Beijing" brand passenger cars will be officially unveiled in October 30th. Unlike the models shown in 2008 Beijing Automotive Exhibition, this time will present the dirigible sample car, which is electric vehicle of new energy. This indicates that Beiqi has made a major step forward not only in new energy, but also in own-brand cars.

The following is an interview by Sohu Auto with Lin Yi.

Sohu Auto: Would you please tell us about the current independent research's direction of Beijing Automobile Works Co., Ltd.?

Lin Yi: Our Beiqi has a new plan, including three lines of the independent innovation. The left one is called passenger car platform, the right one called commercial vehicle platform. Now adds the new energy vehicles platform in the middle.

About the new energy in the middle, we found the solely owned enterprise to engage in research, development, production and sale of the new energy vehicles in Beijing, and the technical support of passenger car platform and commercial platform. It also works on planning function for the new energy vehicle of the whole group.

Sohu Auto: How is the situation of your independent research and development? When will the new vehicle come out?

Lin Yi: Beiqi Institute has been set up in 2007, which is called Beijing Automobile General Research Institute. This institute is mainly used on research and development of "Beijing " brand passenger cars. There are currently 450 workers to mainly research and develop cars of two series, including Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and sedan. The development strategy is "SUV-based, commercial vehicle-led, passenger car-focused, new energy cars-breakthough". Now we are conducting the research and development of two types of SUV. It is expected that one type SUV will be able to go off the assemble line, and the other type will be done by the end of next year, which are light SUV and middle size SUV. If you pay attention, we have already exhibited a B40 red two-door jeep in the 2008 automotive exhibition

Sohu Auto: Would you mind introducing us something about the passenger cars?

Lin Yi: We are now working on the research and development of three series, equivalent to AO level, A level, and B level. Our sample cars have been introduced before in Beijing automotive exhibition, which is 700, sports car 700R, and 800. According to the group's statement, the passenger car will be able to make mass production in 2011.

Sohu Auto: How is the situation of development in new energy?

Lin Yi: Beijing Automobile Works Co., Ltd. is preparing a new energy automobile Co., Ltd. and is expected to list in the stock market later this month.

Sohu Auto: How is the overall structure? Is it a purely independent corporation?

Lin Yi: Yes, it's one of the subsidiary companies wholly owned by Beiqi, listing by the end of October and early November. It's now still in process of preparation. The base will be set up in Caiyu Development Zone in Daxing, which is mainly responsible for research, development, production and sale of whole cars and key parts of the new energy vehicles.

Sohu Auto: There are a lot kinds of new energy. Which direction are you going for?

Lin Yi: We are putting great efforts to develop pure electric car, and to carry out actively research, development and production of hybrid cars.

Sohu Auto: We don't have any advantage in battery, do we? Do you intend to cooperate with other domestic companies?

Lin Yi: Yes, we do.

Sohu Auto: With whom?

Lin Yi: We are intending to set up a new energy corporation. There are three core businesses. The first one is vehicle modification. The second one is research and development of the drive system, and the third is the production of the drive system of whole vehicles. In addition, we will also cooperate with domestic and foreign corporations with advantages to build up battery factory and electrical machine factory.

Sohu Auto: Is it the plan to found the joint venture with them?

Lin Yi: That's right.

Sohu Auto: Whom will you intend to work with? BUICK?

Lin Yi: No. We will build up this battery company along with the establishment of the new energy company.

Sohu Auto: Since it is joint venture, how much will be our overall investment?

Lin Yi: The whole vehicle of new energy is expected to be invested 0.17 billion, and the spare parts (batteries and electric motors) probably 0.5-0.6 billion.

Sohu Auto: So, there should be total 2 billion to put into the new energy vehicles?

Lin Yi: That's right.

Sohu Auto: As you said, will the first passenger car of "Beijing" brand be new energy?

Lin Yi: Yes.

Sohu Auto: Will you be the general manager after this company established?

Lin Yi: It's not decided yet. I am now the team leader of the preparatory group of Beiqi new energy vehicles.

Sohu Auto: What is the name of this new established company?

Lin Yi: We have just decided the company's name today noon, which is called Beijing Automobile New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd. It will be probably able to put into production at the end of this year.

Sohu Auto: How about the whole automotive? You just told about that one factory will do whole vehicles modification. Which kind of car will be modified.

Lin Yi: In 30th. October, the first passenger car of Beijing brandwill make its first stage pose.

Sohu Auto: Which type of car?

Lin Yi: It's confidential for now.(Jianfei Keke)

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