The Chinese mainland and Taiwan have announced they will team up to produce 45-thousand electric cars by 2015. Car makers from both sides will attend a conference in Taipei next week to identify areas where they can cooperate.

The two-day conference is expected to attract more than 100 participants from the mainland's auto sector. Taiwan's economic department said the island's engine and battery production has increased and it wants to work with the mainland on auto detection and standards setting.

Both sides aim to become leaders in the production of environmentally friendly electric cars.