Changes crucial to boost new energy car industry

The government wants to achieve three goals through developing the country's new energy automobile market: upgrading the automobile industry, protecting the environment and using less fuel.

Several industry insiders believe that with the huge domestic market, electric cars will offer China new opportunities to grow. However, they warned that the Chinese automobile industry should not fall into the "same old trap" where foreign carmakers take the main share of the market.

The government has different attitudes towards electric cars and hybrid electric cars. It offers financial backing for technology research and development, as well as high subsidies for electric car buyers. For hybrid electric vehicles, the government only financially supports technology and promotion.

Big State-owned automobile enterprises' position in the two markets may be the reason why the government acts differently.

In the past 50 years, many Chinese automobile companies established joint ventures with foreign car manufacturers to learn advanced techniques. The result was that foreign players now dominate the Chinese auto market.

The government policies mean that electric cars from foreign companies are not eligible for subsidies, but those from joint venture companies are.

As a result, foreign companies tend to produce electric cars with local joint ventures, which is the "same route" as the development of fuel cars in China.

Industry insiders question whether Chinese companies will learn techniques through the electric vehicle joint venture process to help themselves grow competitively.

So far, the performance of Chinese automobile giants in the new energy industry has fallen flat. FAW's plug-in hybrid car Hongqi is still a concept and Dongfeng Motor Corporation has kept a low profile on new energy vehicles.

Private carmaker BYD is the only real "early bird" in the field.

"With central and local governments' strong support, China now has embraced the best environment for the growth of the new energy vehicle industry," said Hu Xiaoqing, PR and marketing director of Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co.