Geely Auto's new energy automobile project in North China's Shanxi province completed construction on Dec 28, 2015, becoming the province's first full auto production line in operation, according to Shanxi Daily.

 

The project will generate 7.5 billion yuan ($1.15 billion) of sales revenue, 760 million yuan of profits, 510 million yuan of tax, and create 1,200 jobs locally when it reaches planned production levels, said An Conghui, president of Geely Auto. The present line has a capacity of 100,000 sedan cars fueled by methanol. The finished vehicles will enter the market in July, 2016.

 

The project has targeted production of 200,000 finished automobiles and 200,000 engines annually, including stamping, welding, coating, and final assembly. The project's first phase is expected to produce half of the total amount.

 

The project is one of the methanol fuel automobile pilot projects in China and a key transformation project in Jinzhong.

 

Hu Yuting, mayor of Jinzhong, said that the project will develop related industries, including hydraulic pressure, metallurgy, non-ferrous metals, chemicals, clean utilization of coal, and logistics, and help upgrade the equipment manufacturing industry.

 

Aside from using new energy automobiles for public transportation, the city will increase installation of methanol filling and battery charging facilities for a better development of its new energy automobile sector.