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Nissan to sell electric cars in three years

Automaker also plans to develop and sell gas-electric hybrid cars by 2010, Japanese business daily reports.

Reuters
Nissan plans to develop and start selling subcompact electric cars powered by self-developed lithium ion batteries in about three years, the Nihon Keizai (Nikkei) business daily reported on Sunday.

Japan's No. 2 automaker also plans to develop and sell gas-electric hybrid cars by 2010 in an attempt to catch up with rivals Honda and Toyota in the field of eco-friendly vehicles, Nikkei said.

In cooperation with its French partner Renault SA, Nissan will speed up the expansion of its lineup of diesel cars, which are in growing demand globally, Nikkei said.

In addition, Nissan will strive to develop bioethanol cars with the help of Renault, Nikkei said, adding that the Japanese automaker would provide Renault with fuel cell and hybrid car technologies.

Company officials were not immediately available for comment.

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