China's leading carmaker, SAIC Motors, has announced it will start making its own brand of vehicles, not only the knock-offs of its foreign partners Volkswagen and General Motors.

Wang Xiaoqiu, general manager of the SAIC Motor Manufacturing Co. Ltd., said at a news conference in Shanghai Monday that the first car of the company's own design will roll off the assembly line by the end of the year.

Between 2007 and 2010, the company is expected to design and produce 30 models ranging from compact to high end cars, Wang said.

SAIC Motor Manufacturing was registered only in February by SAIC Motor Corporation Ltd,which now produces Volkswagen and General Motor (GM) cars through joint venture arrangements.

The new brand, which has yet to be named, will be forged into a global name in partnership with Volkswagen and GM , said Wang.

Construction of new plants for building the new brand is already well underway. Equipment has already been ordered for the plant in Baoshan of Shanghai, and assembly plants in Shanghai and in Yizheng City of neighboring Jiangsu Province have been commissioned.

By 2010, SAIC Motor Manufacturing is expected to produce 300,000 cars and 400,000 engines. A large portion of its vehicles will be exported to Europe and other markets.

Source: Xinhua