Stronger push for 'green' cars(2)

Huge potential

Despite the challenges, both foreign and Chinese brands are confident about the potential of the huge Chinese market and are speeding up efforts to come up with reliable clean-energy models.

Tesla Motors announced in January that its Model S electric sedan that can travel up to 500 km is now available in China.

It sold 22,300 Model S vehicles around the globe in 2013 and hopes to double its annual sales in 2014 "with high expectations for the China market", said Jerome Guillen, Tesla's vice-president for sales and service, in an interview with China Daily in January.

"Although we are not eligible for the central government's subsidies now, we hope to acquire local non-financial support such as free license plate allocations in big cities and favorable parking measures to make the car more attractive to potential owners," he said.

The carmaker also indicated that it would build a free-to-use charging network across China to facilitate the use of its electric vehicles.

Daimler AG became the first European manufacturer to import an electric vehicle as it kicked off sales of its smart fortwo electric drive for individual customers in Beijing and Shanghai last November.

Annette Winkler, global head of smart, told China Daily that the company is "actively communicating with regional governments city by city for some incentives or local support".

Daniel Lescow, head of smart China, said he is personally positive the policy support will be there.

"It can be non-cash incentives such as free parking or free access to a license plate in Beijing, or zero payment for the plate in Shanghai," Lescow said.

BMW Brilliance unveiled the 1E, the first electric crossover of its new brand Zinoro, at the Guangzhou auto show in November. It said the model will hit the market this year.

Based on the BMW X1 platform, the Zinoro 1E is powered by a lithium iron phosphate battery widely recognized for its stability and safety, said the automaker.

Ge Shuwen, deputy head of FAW-VW Audi's sales division, said last year that the joint venture will also put more effort into new energy models in 2014.

BYD's hybrid car Qin caused a sensation due to its design and performance when it was unveiled at the Shanghai auto show in April 2013.

SAIC had invested 4.6 billion yuan in clean-energy models by late 2012, with more than 1.1 billion yuan spent on developing its hybrid Roewe 550, according to the China Securities Journal.