At SAIC's press conference before the opening of the Shanghai Auto Show, Hu Maoyuan announced SAIC's plans to increase research and development efforts in vehicles running on new energy sources such as mixed power, fuel cells and alternative fuels as part of the company's contribution to building an energy-conserving and environmentally-friendly society.

Hu said that SAIC is striving to produce its first model mixed power car on a small industrial scale by 2008 and its dimethyl ether coaches will start commercial trial runs next year. He said that the prototype of SAIC's "Shanghai" fuel-cell sedan has been built and will be on show at the Shanghai Auto Show.