China's first Volt demonstrator vehicles will be delivered in April, with the two companies forming a joint working team to collect feedback from their usage to inform vehicle policy in China. Real-world performance, charging and infrastructure will all be examined as part of the demonstration process.

Ray Bierzynski, GM China executive director of electrification strategy, added: ‘It is important for us to offer those in key positions to affect policy an opportunity to experience firsthand our variety of electrification solutions for reducing the automotive industry’s dependence on petroleum.’

General Motors has already installed charging points at Tsinghua University, the office of SAE China, a Chevrolet dealership in Beijing and at the GM China headquarters in Shanghai to support the project. The carmaker will also install points at CATARC’s headquarters in Tianjin in the near future.

CATARC director Zhao Hang explained: ‘This partnership is strategically important to us. The Volt, with its cutting-edge and practical technologies, will provide information to assist us in preparing the Chinese market for future electrified vehicles.’