Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation Group Chairman Hu Maoyuan (left),Hong Hao(center) director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, and Kevin Wale, president and managing director of GM China attend the ceremony.

88 car keys arranged as "EXPO" and fiva car models provided to the Expo on the plate

cars arranged as "EXPO" in the square

World Expo Shanghai 2010 organisers today received 88 keys to the cars provided by General Motors and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation Group as part of the car services cooperation plan signed with Expo's global partners.

Two of the cars models are the Roewe 750 which debuted last October as SAIC's branded model and GM's Chevrolet Epica. The two companies have signed a sponsorship contract making them the exclusive car suppliers to World Expo 2010.

Other models among the 88 cars include Buick Lacrosse, Buick GL8 First Land and Istana.

Top officials of the two companies and the organisers unveiled the cars -- arranged to form the word "EXPO" -- in a ceremony on the square outside the Shanghai Stadium.

GM and SAIC supported the preparations for World Expo 2010 by providing the first batch of sponsorship cars which have mainly been used for welcoming the representatives of participating countries.

The numbers of cars and models will probably increase according to the practical demands of servicing the participants, the organisers said.

"Besides providing the vehicles, which will certainly cover many kilometers of travel over the coming four years, we also will provide regular services," said Kevin Wale, president and managing director of GM China.

SAIC and GM, who have worked as partners since the 1990s, became the first joint partner for the World Expo 2010 Shanghai last November.

The two companies vowed to integrate the local advantages of SAIC and the international resources of GM to support the sustainable development of city's traffic system and to help the Expo.

"SAIC will take advantage of the Expo platform to expand the business as well as serve the event," said Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation Group Chairman Hu Maoyuan.

Wale also said that they hoped their sponsorship move would inspire and encourage other companies in the world to follow their lead and also become partners of World Expo Shanghai 2010.

China Eastern Airlines, China Telecom, China Mobile and the Bank of Communications have also become official partners.

The Expo organisers plans to recruit some 12 global partners and 15 senior sponsors in more than ten sectors including computer systems, electric power supply, medical facilities, insurance, logistics, retails, fast food and Internet services.

Partners can use the Expo logo for business promotion and have priority in participating in Expo activities and exhibitions.

So far, 125 countries and international organisations have confirmed their participation in the six-month event.