Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle Co, a joint venture (JV) between Dongfeng Motor Corp and Japan-based Nissan Motor Co, is reported planning to manufacture electric vehicles under Nissan brand for the Chinese market, as per industry sources.

The move is in line with the Japanese automaker's global strategy to massively produce electric cars in 2010. Nissan is in talks with China's auto authorities for local production of its electric cars for the Chinese market.

The new electric car facility will probably be located in Beijing or Shanghai, said Dongfeng Nissan.

Dongfeng Nissan plans to start the local production in the second half of 2010 and locally-produced electric cars are expected to be available in the Chinese market by 2012, sources reported.

Prior to the local production, the electric cars will be imported to the Chinese market initially.

China is one of the most important electric car markets and the company will further explore the market with new plans, sources said, citing Yasuaki Hashimoto, president of Nissan Motor (China) Ltd, at the 2008 Guangzhou Auto Show last month.