Automakers Renault and Nissan signed a deal with Spanish energy and infrastructure group Acciona on Tuesday to market electric cars in the country, the three companies announced.
Under the agreement signed in Madrid, Acciona will set up a network of recharging points and associated services for the vehicles.
Renault, France’s number two automaker, is to begin selling four types of electric vehicles from 2011.
Nissan, Japan’s third-largest carmaker and which is 44 percent owned by Renault, plans to introduce its first electric model in Europe in late 2010 or early 2011.
The three companies did not provide financial details of the agreement, which the head of Renault Spain, Jean-Pierre Laurent, said were “confidential.”
The announcement came the same day as Spain’s Socialist government said it plans to invest 590 million euros (794 million dollars) over two years in the development of an electric vehicle in the country.
Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian presented a report on the issue at a cabinet meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega.
“The plan envisages a wide range of measures to help the demand, to support investment and the development of the industrial sector and set up the necessary infrastructure to recharge the vehicles,” de la Vega said.
The Spanish government hopes to see 250,000 electric or hybrid vehicles in the country by 2014.
