GAC Motor Co Ltd, the subsidiary of the Guangzhou Automobile Group Co, has signed an agreement with a local science institution to build a low-carbon and new energy exhibition, aiming to promote an environmentally-friendly lifestyle.

"As a major carmaker in the Pearl River Delta, we are determined to promote better life styles by producing more new energy cars in the near future," said Yu Jun, general manager of GAC Motor.

Under the agreement, GAC Motor and the Guangdong Science Center will build a low-carbon science exhibition, a new-energy vehicle test-driving center, a new-energy scientific seminar center and a display zone for new energy cars within the next few years.

"The launch of the low carbon and new energy exhibition will help promote wider use of electric vehicles," Yu said.

According to a development plan for new energy vehicles, by 2018 Guangzhou will have been developed as a pilot zone for China's new energy automobile industry.

An industrial leader in the Pearl River Delta, GAC Motor is set to build a national laboratory, focusing on the research and development of new energy vehicles and covering the core technologies of batteries, electric engines, processing and electromechanical coupling and systems integration, according to Gu Huinan, vice-general manager of the company.

"We will launch more than 10 new energy vehicle varieties including hybrid power, extended-range and electric vehicles, in the next five years," Gu said.

The company's GA5 PHEV was launched in December 2015. Sales of the hybrid power electric car reached more than 3,000 units in 2016, with more than 1,000 units being used by popular online car-sharing service providers Didi and Uber.

In 2017, GAC Motor said it would launch four new energy cars - the GA3S PHEV, GS4 PHEV, GA6 PHEV and A0 SUV models - Gu said.

According to Lu Jingui, director of the Guangdong Science Center, the low-carbon and new energy exhibition, costing 30 million yuan ($4.33 million), will be in use by 2018 and cover 2,400 square meters.

"Building the new-energy exhibition will help diversify the science center, promoting a better living environment," Lu said.

qiuquanlin@chinadaily.com.cn