BEIJING, Nov 27: French car maker Renault is planning to build a 200,000-vehicle a year plant in China, but needs political support to go ahead, a source with knowledge of the scheme said on Tuesday.

For years Renault has left the Chinese market — the world’s biggest — to its Japanese alliance partner Nissan, as part of their geographical division of markets. The factory is to be built in Wuhan, in central China, by Renault and its joint venture partner Dongfeng, said the source, who works in the same area.

But an environmental impact assessment still has to be completed and the approval process will take several months, the source told AFP, and was likely to involve high-level political figures from France and China. “It will be good if the foundation can be laid before the end of 2013,” the source said.—AFP