SAIC is planning to take its first steps into the pure electric vehicle market with the Roewe E50. The manufacturer signed an agreement with Shanghai International Automobile City to sell Roewe E50s to ordinary buyers, Xinhua reported today.

The first batch of 200 E50s (pictured) will be sold to Shanghai Gaozhan New Energy Vehicle Sales, in what SAIC hopes is the first step for the model entering the electric vehicle market.

The E50 is a product of three years of independent research and development work at SAIC. As a result, the manufacturer holds all of the intellectual property rights to the car. The E50, which produces no emissions, has both quick and slow charging modes, in order to better satisfy the demands of different owners. The car can be driven for up to 120 km on a full charge.

SAIC's new partner, Shanghai International Automobile City, entered the market last April. The company is committed to actively promoting EV sales in China. At the moment, the majority of new energy vehicles are owned by government bodies or used for public transportation. Both companies hope to further develop the new energy vehicle field in China by bringing the E50 to the retail market.