Beijing residents will be able to buy Tesla and BMW new energy vehicles (NEVs) more easily thanks to a less-competitive lottery system.
To buy a car running on fossil fuels in Beijing, drivers must join a lottery to obtain a license plate first. Those who want certain new energy car can participate another lottery system, if the model is on an official list.
According to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology on Wednesday, six Tesla models and one BMW are included in a catalogue for the lottery system exclusive to new energy cars.
It is the first time foreign brands have been included in the list, previously exclusively for domestic auto makers and joint ventures.
Those who want to buy new energy models not included in the catalogue must compete in the gasoline lottery.
In August, 38 percent of Beijingers who applied via the NEV lottery system obtained permits, while the acceptance rate for buyers of cars running on fossil fuels was only 0.5 percent.
The State Council on Tuesday asked local authorities to lift purchase restrictions and remove traffic controls for NEVs, while retaining curbs for cars running on fossil fuels, to stimulate sales and development of eco-friendly vehicles.
