Chongqing to push annual EV output to 242,000 by 2012

The Chongqing Municipality said it aims to boost annual output of electric vehicles to 242,000 units by 2012. The Chongqing government expects vehicle sales to generate an estimated 29.6 billion yuan (US$4.33 billion) in revenue by then. Currently, there are five large automobile manufacturers in Chongqing which produce electric vehicles–Chana Auto Co. Ltd., Lifan Group, Yu’an Group, Loncin Group and Hengtong Bus Co. Ltd. These manufacturers plan to boost their production capacities to 120,000, 70,000, 20,000, 30,000 and 2,000 units respectively by 2012. The national target is for 10% of locally produced automobiles–roughly 1 million units–to be powered by renewable energy by 2010, according to Wan Gang, China’s Minister of Science and Technology. (March 5, 2010)