Chinese carmaker Chery Auto has started to expand its partnership with global companies such as SCI and PPG in its efforts to develop new-energy vehicles, said sina.com.cn today.
Chery Auto has recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Structural Composites Industries LLC (SCI) of the U.S. for cooperation in the OEM project of developing new-energy vehicles. The two sides have talked about the application of CNG (compressed natural gas) as vehicle fuel. Chery has plans to create a world-class new-energy auto brand by using the world's cutting-edge fuel technologies.

Earlier this month, PPG Industries Inc, the world's leading manufacturer of transportation coatings, opened an auto coatings plant in Wuhu, Anhui province to supply Chery Auto which is headquartered in the city. This will greatly reduce a lot of costs for Chery. PPG produces auto coatings in China for customers such as General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen, Chery and Hainan Mazda.

Chery Auto sources said that since early 2007 the company has also reached agreements for long-term partnership with some of the world's top 500 auto-parts suppliers such as PPG, Delphi, Exxon Mobil, and Bosch, as part of the Chery Auto's strategy of developing new-energy vehicles.