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China to encourage compact cars: NDRC
By Guan Xiaomeng (Chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2005-11-09 15:33
China will soon release a new policy encouraging the
production and use of economy cars, pushing forward the drive to a
conservation-minded and environmentally friendly society.
A board along
Chang'an Avenue banning cars with emissions under 1.0 liter. |
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Liu Zhi, a National Development Reform Commission (NDRC) official, China's
top planning agency, told an energy conference in Beijing that the new policy
clarifies rules on compact cars and emissions standards.
The Xinhua News Agency reported Liu explained that compact cars refer to
fuel-efficient and low-emissions cars. To be specific, a car body can be no more
than 4 meters long and emissions no more than 1.4 liters while the engine power
is no less than 45 kilowatts per liter. Prices of such cars are generally within
the reach of ordinary consumers.
With people's living standards advancing, more and more intend to buy private
cars. However, due to surging fuel prices and worsening pollution, encouraging
the use of compact cars has been one of the top agendas of the central
government.
Premier Wen Jiabao said in his speech on the establishment of
conversation-minded society earlier this year that the government has pledged to
waive limits on the use of fuel-efficient and emission-conservative cars.
Several local governments have already taken measures to encourage compact cars.
According to the NDRC, the new policy will guide the car industrial
readjustment considering safety, environmental protection, energy savings and
private car purchasing. In this way, economy model cars will help reconcile the
contradiction between the growing car industry and the worsening environment
together with the dwindling energy supply.
Yet, there are still more than 80 cities nationwide that impose limits on
compact cars in an effort to decrease traffic jams and maintain the status of
cities Liu pointed out it is not reasonable because compact cars are not
low-quality cars. As the car industry has advanced, many compact cars have
become equipped with excellent technology and performance
well.
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