BEIJING (Reuters) - China's top electric vehicle forum, the World New Energy Vehicle Congress (WNEVC) will hold a conference in Sacramento, California from May 16-17, according to a statement from the Chinese Society of Automotive Engineers on Sunday.

With a highly developed, low cost supply chain led by companies such as BYD and Geely, China is a leading global exporter of EVs.

However, concerns over subsidies have made the issue a bone of contention in relations between Beijing and Washington, as the U.S. seeks to protect its domestic EV sector from Chinese imports.

The WNEVC in Munich, Germany in September was the first time the forum was held outside China. That was seen as a indication of Chinese EV makers' ambitions for expansion.

(Reporting by Andrew Hayley; Editing by Ros Russell)