French auto maker Renault, which still does not manufacture in China, hopes to get permission by the end of the year to open a factory there, a senior executive said Thursday.

The requests "were made at the beginning of September to Chinese authorities to grant us manufacturing licences," Renault Chief Operating Officer Carlos Tavares said at the Paris Motor Show.

Renault wants to partner in China with Dongfeng, which already works with Renault's Japanese ally Nissan.

"We hope that by the end of the year we will have positive signals which would allow us to build a factory at the beginning of next year," added Tavares.

He said Renault intends to build a new factory rather than take over an existing facility.

And he pledged Renault would bring a sizeable line up of vehicles to the world's largest car market, including an electric vehicle.