TIANJIN: The China Automobile Technology and Research Centre (CATARC), an auto industry think tank, is dedicated to drawing up compulsory technological standards for auto makers, said a senior official from the centre.

"None of the various existing technological standards for the auto industry are compulsory, and we are trying to fill the blank," said CATARC's director Zhao Hang.

According to Zhao, the standards being pulled together concern security, environmental protection and power consumption, as well as electric and hybrid-powered vehicles.

The power consumption standard will be the first of its kind in the domestic auto industry, he said.

Regarding the standards to be drafted for electric and hybrid cars, Zhao said CATARC will learn a lot from European practices and ensure the new regulations are in line with European Union standards.

CATARC is making research on technology for hybrid vehicles and electronic control.

China's auto industry is heavily reliant on joint ventures with foreign firms, and remains relatively weak in terms of developing technology alone. This leaves the domestic auto industry relatively passive when it comes to international competition, said Zhao, adding that domestic research should change to a higher gear.

CATARC signed an agreement with the United States Southwest Research Institute yesterday for a 50-50 joint research and development venture.

On the same day the centre signed a memorandum of understanding with US-based Technology Training Inc (TTi) to jointly provide professional training and certification for auto services from early next year.

Through the new company, TTi and CATARC will set up training centres for after-sales services nationwide, and share the franchise rights to offering auto service training on the mainland.

TTi, which has been offering after-sales services to auto giants including General Motors and Ford, will also help CATARC become a national auto services certification institute, expected to be the first of its kind in China.