(Yicai Global) Sept. 29 -- SAIC Motor plans to double the number of its new energy vehicle models to almost 200 types of passenger and commercial autos over the next five years, The Paper reported today, citing the president of China's biggest carmaker.

SAIC will continue to invest in all electric, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, Wang Xiaoqiu said at the 2020 World NEV Congress in Haikou, Hainan province yesterday. At least 20 of the new models will be plug-in hybrids and 10 will be hydrogen fuel cell.

"Plug-in hybrid is key to meeting users' green travel needs at present," Wang said. The government should respect the market when formulating industrial policies to give the public the right to choose, he added.

SAIC's joint ventures with foreign carmakers will accelerate the roll out of NEV models, he said.

SAIC Volkswagen, for example, will start production of its first electric vehicle model based on the modular electric drive matrix, the ID.4 sports utility vehicle, very soon, Wang said. The JV will produce Volkswagen and Skoda-branded electric cars ranging from budget autos to luxury vehicles.

Over 40 percent of the new types of autos to be developed by SAIC General Motors in China over the next five years will be zero-emission, Wang said. These will include the Cadillac, Buick and Chevrolet marques and they will be made from start to finish in China.

By leveraging the firm's advantages in electric vehicle architecture, intelligent network connection and smart driving, Shanghai-based SAIC plans to expand beyond China to enter the mainstream European market, he added.

Editor: Kim Taylor