Chery Receives Permission to Begin Production of Hybrids

Chery has received permission to produce two hybrid sedans, the Chery SQR 7310 and Chery SQR 7190 from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China.

The 7130 is Chery's first hybrid sedan with a 1.3 litre engine on an A5 chassis.

As China begins to produce hybrid cars, the rest of the world can just wonder if they will start buying them. So far, the Chinese public has not felt the extra cost was worth it.

Press Release follows:

Shanghai, March 28 (Gasgoo.com) China's carmaker Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. recently said that two Chery hybrid sedans have received the production permit from the country's industry regulator.

Chery SQR 7130 and Chery SQR 7190 are listed in the latest public notice of the "Automobile Manufacturers and Products" issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China.

Of the two Chery models, Chery SQR 7130 is the carmaker's first own brand hybrid sedan. It's a low-emission hybrid compact car equipped with a 1.3L engine and an A5 chassis. This model is oriented to users who need the private means of transportation in urban centers.

A Chery executive said that this own-brand model can fill in a gap in the hybrid sedan market and match up to the government's standards of energy saving and emission reducing. The production permit granted by the NDRC also indicates that the technical strengths of Chery Auto were well recognized by the national economic planner.

Chery has won the bid to provide 50 of the 80 vehicles for the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Of the 50 Chery vehicles for Olympic services, 40 are mild hybrid sedans.