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(BBC) The car will be made in a joint venture with Shanghai Automotive, and will come off the production line in time for next year's Beijing Olympic Games.

GM announced last month that it is building a research centre in Shanghai to develop hybrid technologies.

Hybrid cars are designed to use a combination of power sources, usually petrol and electricity.

The Chinese government's National Development and Reform Commission is understood to be drafting plans to provide subsidies for low-emission vehicles.

The rules are expected to require that some of the components be made in China.
Currently Toyota is the only company making hybrids in China - it sold 2,000 there last year.

GM also announced that it will launch its plug-in hybrid, the Chevrolet Volt, by the end of 2010.
It has not given details of which model it will be building in China.

I thought the Toyota Prius was made in a Chinese factory [according to a National Geographic article].

There are Toyota Prius now being manufactured in China. However they have not sold well here. Somewhere between one and a few thousand over two or three years? Hard numbers seem hard to find.

I just saw 3 in Hong Kong, including one painted traffic-warning-yellow used as an airport service vehicle. But the big thrill there was to catch sight of the hybrid Toyota minivan! Sorry, just got excited there. I'm OK now.

DAS

Research Center for hybrids in Shanghai = Chinese engineering = unemployed American engineers. China has a ton of engineers, but American Technology is superior. I think China steals technology from many companies because they require joint ventures.

Well, if GM can make a Prius beating hybrid from China for $15,000 I'd be happy! I'd wait till it was in the market for 3 years to see how good or flawed it is.