05-04-2007 China
has issued draft regulations to guide production of vehicles using new sources
of fuel, encouraging auto makers to enter the growing market.
China's
National Development and Reform Committee issued more than 15 guidelines last
week and has invited expert opinions and comment on how best to develop alternative-fuel
vehicles.
Auto makers from home and abroad must have government approval
to produce new-energy vehicles in China, the draft said.
They must meet
all the requirements, including holding their own core technology, list their
research and development capability, and make their models meet national standards
on gas emissions and oil consumption.
China will also form a committee
with experts from national science and technology departments to standardize the
technology regulation and offer suggestions to boost development of greener cars.
According to the draft, new-energy vehicles include hybrid-electric vehicles,
fuel-cell vehicles, and battery-electric vehicles. It also includes models that
use alternative fuels excluding gasoline, diesel, natural gas, liquid petroleum
gas and ethanol.
The draft came after a spate of auto makers announced
ambitious plans to roll out new-energy vehicles amid soaring oil prices as well
in the interests of environmental protection. "Such
regulation aims to encourage auto makers to increase their research and development
of new technology to meet the growing market demand," said Jia Xinguang,
former chief analyst fr om China National Automotive Industry Consulting and Development
Co.
"But it is also lifting the threshold for them to enter new
markets and prevent special policies from being abused."
China offers
financial incentives for vehicle manufacturers and research institutes, including
interest-free loans to support the development of new-energy vehicles.
"The
new rule will benefit those car makers which are dedicated to the new technology,"
Jia told journalist.
Last year, record high oil prices dragged down the
demand for gas-guzzling models and caused a sales slump and profit decline for
the world's major auto makers.
As demand grows for cleaner, safer and
more fuel-efficient vehicles, overseas firms have formed partnerships to share
costs and speed development, not only to ease the national reliance on oil but
also to lead the market in the future.
The Chinese government is encouraging
auto makers to develop more new-energy vehicles to improve the technological capability
of its own auto industry after cooperating with global players for the past 10
years.
At least 10 more auto makers are working on new-energy vehicles,
which are expected to hit the roads within three to five years.
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