GM Considers Hybrid Car Manufacturing in China

General Motors is considering making a gasoline-electric hybrid car in China with its Shanghai venture partner, The Detroit News reports.

GM and Shanghai Automotive Industry are studying the addition of a small sport utility vehicle hybrid to their product offerings.

Toyota Motor is expected to introduce hybrid technology in China, the world’s third-largest vehicle market.

GM is interested in building a hybrid to prevent Japanese carmakers from cornering the market in China, said one GM source.

Toyota and the China Automotive Technology and Research Center are preparing a certification process for hybrids in China. But Toyota has not decided to market a specific model in China, and it has no plans to produce hybrids outside Japan.