HONG KONG (Yonhap News) ― Samsung SDI Co., a South Korean manufacturer of hybrid car batteries, will likely benefit from China’s eco-friendly vehicle policy as China has grown to become the world’s largest auto market, a report by a final services firm said Monday.

Shinhan Investment Corp. said in the report that Samsung SDI will gain long-term growth momentum from China’s eco-friendly vehicle promotion.

“China’s promotion of the eco-friendly vehicle industry is not a choice but a must,” said Soh Hyun-cheol, an analyst at Shinhan Investment.

“The Chinese government plans to promote eco-friendly vehicles to both ensure energy security and nurture new growth industry.”

The Chinese government selected the new energy industry as one of China’s leading strategic industries for its 2011-15 economic development period. It is also promoting alternative fuel vehicles in its move to cut carbon emissions to create a greener environment.

Samsung SDI has been seeking to strengthen cooperation with Chinese enterprises and research institutions on studying and developing electric vehicles and new energy technologies.

China aims to boost its annual production of clean energy automobiles, including electric cars, hybrid energy vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell cars and solar cars, to 15 million units by 2020.