Shanghai, March 24 (Gasgoo.com) Yesterday, authoritative sources in the local auto industry revealed that Guangzhou city is now applying for the Energy-Saving and New-Energy Vehicle Pilot Program and will possibly be among the seven candidate cities. Under this favorable policy, the hybrid Camry, BYD’s dual-mode electric vehicle F3DM, Guangzhou Automobile New Energy Bus and other Guangzhou Auto produced new energy vehicles have made according plans for this project.
The list of 13 energy-saving and new-energy vehicle pilot cities published by the central government last year included Shenzhen, but Guangzhou was screened out. The State Council Executive meeting held at the end of last year decided to increase the number of the pilot cities to 20. Guangzhou has a great opportunity to be one of them, the relevant authoritative source in the industry said.
As various cities all have great enthusiasm for the pilot project, the State Council has therefore decided to expand the scope of this program. The upcoming Asian Games in Guangzhou will also serve as an opportunity and platform to promote new energy vehicles. Guangzhou Automobile Hybrid Bus and other new energy vehicles will be unveiled, which will also increase Guangzhou’s possibility of being short-listed as a pilot city.
At present, the central finance gives a one-off fixed grant to the pilot cities-related public services, promotion units and the new energy vehicles. The State Council will also give subsidies to five pilot cities for the private purchase of energy-saving and new energy vehicles. "Now the policy has become increasingly clear," said a relevant executive of BYD.
Guangzhou Auto’s bus division has recently received the regulatory permit for mass production of hybrid city-buses. The Camry hybrid sedan produced by Guangzhou Toyota will be officially launched in April. This is the first mass-produced hybrid car by Guangzhou Auto.
BYD Auto has decided to sell its F3DM dual-mode electric vehicle to individual buyers starting on March 29. This will be the first electric car sold to individuals in mainland China.
