The fuel-cell vehicle is a joint venture of General Motors Corp. in China.

For Release: April 22, 2002

CONTACTS:

Scott Fosgard, General Motors
586.947.3295

BEIJING - U.S. Department of Commerce Sec. Donald Evans today visited China for a demonstration of a fuel cell vehicle developed by a vehicle engineering joint venture of General Motors Corp. in China.

The demonstration was part of an exhibition arranged in conjunction with Earth Day to showcase Sino-US cooperation in the development of clean energy technology to improve the environment in Beijing and all of China.

"Fuel cells and hydrogen-based technology represent the future of transportation," said Tim Stratford, Vice Chairman of the General Motors China Group. "Hydrogen is a clean-burning and renewable source of energy whose development has drawn the support of both the Chinese and United States governments. ``

"There is great potential for a country like China to adopt hydrogen as a fuel. However, this requires the growth of a hydrogen infrastructure and the full cooperation of government and industry through projects such as this."

The zero-emission fuel cell wagon, called the Phoenix, is based on a Buick GL8 from Shanghai GM, GM's vehicle assembly joint venture in China. It was unveiled last November in Shanghai, China. PATAC (Pan Asia Automotive Technology Center), a joint venture of GM and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, took the lead on the project, integrating the fuel cell system into the vehicle, using a fuel cell stack developed by GM. Scientists and engineers at GM's Global Alternative Propulsion Center in the United States and Germany provided the fuel cell system, components and technical support. A portable hydrogen refueling station designed to be compatible with hydrogen sources in China also was supplied by GM for the Phoenix.

The fully running, eight-passenger vehicle is powered by compressed hydrogen. Electricity, created by the fuel cell, is stored in a battery module, which powers an electric motor that propels the vehicle with 35 kilowatts (47 horsepower).

"The Phoenix is serving as a test bed for further hydrogen-based research and development efforts by SAIC, GM and our technology partners," said Stratford. "As the
global leader in fuel cell development, GM's overriding aim is to help China reduce its dependency on imported petroleum while providing a cleaner and greener environment. This is especially important to Beijing, the host of the 2008 Olympic Games."

PATAC is a 50-50 joint venture of SAIC and GM located in Shanghai. Established in 1997, it is Asia Pacific's first independent automotive engineering and design center joint venture. PATAC offers a range of advanced services to its parent companies as well as to other automotive companies in China and across the region.

SAIC is one of China's top three automotive companies and the country's leading sedan manufacturer. It accounts for more than half of the country's sedan sales. In addition to PATAC, SAIC also partners with GM in Shanghai GM, a joint venture that produces a family of Buick products.

General Motors, the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks worldwide. In 2001, GM earned $1.5 billion on sales of $177.3 billion, excluding special items. It employs about 362,000 people globally. GM currently has more than 3,800 employees, three joint ventures and two wholly owned enterprises in China.