BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhuanet)-- Automobile giant Hyundai of the Republic of Korea plans to build its second factory in Beijing, which is expected to go into production at the end of 2008.

    Xu Heyi, president of Beijing Hyundai, released the news at a national auto forum held in Beijing on Wednesday.

    Xu said construction will begin soon, which has a designed production capacity of 300,000 units.

    A research and development center is also to be built in Beijing in a bid to design more cars that meet the demand of Chinese consumers, said Xu.

    The new factory is one step in Beijing Hyundai's new strategy to expand its production in China in the next five years, said Xu.

    Xu said Beijing Hyundai is now talking with the Hyundai Motor Co. about introducing electricity-hybrid cars into the Chinese market.

    Facing tight energy supplies, the Beijing Hyundai also plans to focus its new product on low-emission cars, and a new-style 1,4-liter engine is to debut on the Chinese market soon, according to Xu.

    Beijing Hyundai will join hands with Hyundai Motor Co. to realize scaled production of the fuel-cell cars to replace traditional fuel-engine cars. Enditem