Beijing-based Foton Automobile Company has signed a sales contract with Taiwan Chengyun Automobile Company to provide 75 Euro V hybrid buses.

This is said to be the first time that an automobile manufacturer from mainland China has sold new-energy vehicles to Taiwan.

In January 2008, Foton delivered 30 Euro V hybrid buses to Guangzhou No. 1 Bus Company, and this was reported to be the first batch of new-energy vehicle products in mainland China. According to Zhang Weixiong, the president of Guangzhou No. 1 Bus Company, the buses use 25% less petroleum and in the first year alone, each bus saved up to CNY90,000 in operating costs. Zhang said that using these buses would reduce the carbon dioxide emissions by 27 tons in eight years.

To date, Foton has set up a new-energy vehicle base in China and initiated the establishment of the first new-energy automobile industry alliance in the country.