China likely to unveil new-energy auto plan

China is making a new-energy vehicle development plan and is expected to unveil it in September or October, Dong Yang, secretary general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, said at an auto market development forum. According to Dong, it is necessary for China to develop energy-efficient and new-energy vehicles, to avoid high dependence on petroleum. In the development of new-energy vehicles, China still depends on imports of key raw materials and certain manufacturing equipments. The association calls for more government incentives for the R&D of new-energy vehicles. Dong said that the government should take a neutral stance on technical approaches of new-energy vehicle development, and support hybrid, fuel cell vehicles, as well as pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. (July 19, 2010)