Major trading house Marubeni Corp. said Wednesday it has joined a corporate committee set up last November by two other Japanese trading houses and a Canadian firm to promote fuel cell-powered cars in Japan.

Mitsubishi Corp., Mitsui & Co. and Methanex Corp. set up the committee. Methanex is a leading Canadian methanol manufacturer and sells its products in Japan through trading firms including the three on the committee.

Marubeni said the committee will work with local governments to expand the use of fuel cell-powered vehicles such as buses in public transportation.

The three trading houses have a combined 50 percent share in Japan's imported methanol market.