From the beginning of 2008, Foton delivery 30 Euro-V hybrid buses in Guangzhou, China's new energy bus sector were already stepping up to the forefront of the world.

As early as 2005, Foton started an investment of over 600 million yuan in research and development of hybrid vehicles, said Zhao Jingguang, Deputy Party Chief of Beiqi Foton Motor Company. To date, Foton's hybrid buses are already put into massive production. During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the zero-emission and pollution-free Foton Euro-V fuel cell bus made its own contribution to guaranteeing Beijing's air quality during the Games.

At the end of 2008, China's first new energy auto design and manufacture base was established at the Beiqi Foton Motor Company. The base, which involves a total investment of five billion yuan, possesses three important green energy technologies -- clean energy, alternative energy and new energy technology, and is keeping pace with the world, Zhao explained.

"This will have a demonstrative effect and will play an important role in driving the development of new energy vehicles in other regions of China," he said. On the day the base came about, Beijing Public Transport Holdings signed a procurement agreement with Foton for 800 hybrid urban buses and chassis.

The development and promotion of new energy vehicles is of profound significance to sustainable economic and social development.