Nissan Motor and its alliance partner Renault are setting up a new joint venture in China with Dongfeng Motor Group to design and build electric cars, joining a list of global automakers aiming to make such vehicles in China.

The automakers are attempting to tap into a boom for such cleaner vehicles in the world's biggest auto market and gearing up to meet its anticipated stringent plug-in car quotas.

Ford Motor announced earlier this month it was exploring setting up a joint venture with car maker Anhui Zotye Automobile to build electric vehicles in China under a new brand.

Carlos Ghosn: "The new joint venture with Dongfeng confirms our common commitment to develop competitive electric vehicles for the Chinese market." Akio Kon

Tesla, Daimler and General Motors have already announced plans for making electric vehicles in China, which wants electric and plug-in hybrid cars to make up at least a fifth of the country's auto sales by 2025.

The new joint venture, called eGT New Energy Automotive, will be owned 25 per cent each by Nissan and Renault with Dongfeng owning 50 per cent, Nissan and Renault said.