GM to add hybrid production in China in 2008

Earlier this year at the Shanghai Motor Show, General Motors showed off a hybrid version of the Chinese market Buick LaCrosse. The car was powered by GM's mild hybrid belt-alternator-starter system matched to a 2.4L four cylinder engine. General Motors will now start building the BAS LaCrosse at their Shanghai joint-venture plant in the first half of 2008 and put them on sale before the Olympic Games in Beijing. So far hybrid sales have been poor in China due to relatively low gas prices and high costs of the vehicles. However with Chinese gas taxes set to rise dramatically, the relatively low cost BAS system could prove popular for GM.

[Source: Reuters]