PLA can be envoy of domestic brands

The four People's Liberation Army headquarters published a circular, approved by President Xi Jinping and the Central Military Commission, in January saying the purchase of new military vehicles should be made according to a centralized system and the armed forces need to choose domestic automobile brands. Following the circular, the PLA purchased more than 1,000 Hongqi H7 sedans made by First Automobile Works. And before the Hongqi sedans, it bought Trumpchi from Guangzhou Automobile Group and Besturn from FAW Group in deference to the central leadership's call for promoting frugality and cutting waste.

Although the PLA's move will not have an immediate effect on the auto market, it will boost China's auto industry in the long run. China became the world's leading automobile manufacturer in terms of output in 2010, ending the pole position held by the United States for more than a century.

Today, as the largest equipment manufacturer, China has an output that accounts for one-third of the world's total. It has also become the largest auto producer, as well as the largest auto market in the world. China is thus well positioned to facilitate the development of domestic auto brands, and it should embark on that because the growth of self-owned brands holds the key to sustaining its economic and social development. Based on the premise of ensuring efficiency, fair competition and clean governance, giving priority to domestic brands when purchasing vehicles for official use will not only reduce costs, but also have a far-reaching impact on the domestic auto industry.