Renault Nissan, China’s Dongfeng announce e car venture

Automakers Renault and Nissan say they plan to develop electric cars with a Chinese state-owned partner. (Photo by Rian Castillo/Flickr, CC BY 2.0)

BEIJING — Automakers Renault and Nissan say they plan to develop electric cars with a Chinese state-owned partner.

The venture announced Tuesday with Dongfeng Motor Corp. adds to a string of tie-ups between foreign automakers and Chinese partners to create electric vehicles for China, the biggest market for the technology.

The companies said they aim to develop a vehicle based on an SUV platform shared by Renault and Nissan and draw on Dongfeng’s manufacturing.

Renault SA and Nissan Motor Corp.

have a wide-ranging alliance to share technology and production. Dongfeng assembles vehicles for Nissan, Kia and other foreign brands and owns a share of France’s PSA Peugeot Citroen.

Ford Motor Co. announced a similar electric car venture last week with another Chinese partner.