FIAT Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), an Italian-American multinational and one of the largest car producers in the world, is looking to expand its shares of electric vehicles in the Chinese market, FCA’s head of electronics has said.

“We are planning for the Chinese market, we will be selecting some specific brands to meet the needs of customers in China,” head of EMEA e-Mobility of FCA Roberto Di Stefano said on the sidelines of an automobile forum in Katowice, Poland.

“It will be not only the battery electric vehicle, but also the hybrid and plug-in hybrid that we’ll bring to this fast-growing market,” he added.

“Everyone knows that the real market for electric mobility will be China and then the rest of the world will follow.”

Di Stefano said his company was currently investing massively not only in technology, but also in skills of staff, to be able to better “support the transition for the customers.”

“We are investing in improving the capacity of our sales people to better explain the electric product well to the clients. If the sales personnel does not explain the product in depth, the client – who might come in already skeptical because of issues with access to charging stations, for example – will be reluctant to buy,” the Italian executive said.

Di Stefano said that storage of renewable energy was key as utilities around the world are moving away from coal. He said coal-dependent countries like China and Poland were making the transition from coal to renewables. (Xinhua)