The few hybrid and electric vehicles domestic carmakers brought to the
Beijing Auto Show might have surprised many visitors. Now, young home-grown
carmakers are confident and capable of embracing cutting-edge
technologies.
However, a recently issued green products inventory for
government procurement of cars indicates that green cars are not only for
show.
As the Chinese Government adopts a more environmentally friendly
procurement policy, domestic carmakers should see that going green is both a
source of profit and a matter of survival.
The implementation of a green
procurement policy will promote green manufacturing and green consumption. From
January 1, 2007, the central and provincial-level governments have been asked to
give priority to products proven to be environmentally friendly.
But of
all the nine car brands the government listed for green procurement, none,
unfortunately, are home-made. Why? Only seven joint ventures have obtained the
first batch of green car certificates the China Quality Certification Centre
issued to manufacturers of energy-saving and environmentally friendly
cars.
As the world's third-biggest car market, China has provided a
golden opportunity for domestic carmakers to prosper in recent
years.
Latest statistics show that both China's car sales and production
increased by more than a quarter in the first 10 months of this year over the
same period last year. Local carmakers have captured about 27 per cent of the
market with low-cost cars developed by themselves.
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