FAW's new energy cars, namely Besturn plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and Besturn EV, debut in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, Aug. 22, 2011. The two types of new energy vehicles were self-designed by FAW, China's leading carmaker, since 2009.

Major Chinese automaker First Automobile Works (FAW) on Monday launched the first batch of its independently-developed new energy vehicles.

The first 20 new-energy vehicles include the company's Besturn plug-in hybrids (PHEV) and pure electric vehicles (EV).

Xu Jianyi, FAW chairman, said FAW will stick to the strategy of developing both hybrid and electric-fueled vehicles in the future.

"The company will invest 9.8 billion yuan (1.5 billion U.S. dollars) in the next five years to develop and build eight new-energy vehicle production platforms," Xu said, adding that FAW has planned to develop 13 new-energy passenger car models and three commercial vehicle models during the period.

The company's production line will be soon able to realize a yearly production capacity of 10,000 units of new energy vehicles this year, he said.

The Besturn PHEV model, which has obtained patents in both China and America, can consume 60 percent less petro than a traditional car. It can drive 70 km on a single charge using only the electric motor, said FAW engineer Li Jun.

The Besturn EV model can run 170 km on a single charge, he said.