Hybrids to make 10% of China auto output by '12

Shanghai, December 16 (Gasgoo.com) Experts said at an industry event that the hybrid vehicle output is expected to reach 1 million units annually by 2012, which will account for more than 10 percent of China's overall vehicle output, the Jinghua newspaper reported today

Hybrids would be mass-produced for the Chinese market within the next three years, and production at this stage would be focused on mild-hybrid such as BSG and ISG hybrids, said the newspaper, citing experts presenting at International Hybrid Vehicle Technology Development and Application Seminar held last weekend.

Full hybrid and plug-in vehicles are expected to dominate the market during the 2012 and 2020 period and in the following decade, output of hybrids would account for 50 percent of the total output volume while those powered by traditional fuel engines would account for 25 percent of the total figure.

"Hybrid vehicles with better fuel economy and minimal emissions than for fuel efficiency, are one of the important solutions for environmental crisis," said Zhan Zhihong, deputy director-general of the ministry's Department of High and New Technology Development and Industrialization.

Zhang said China has begun working on hybrid vehicle demonstration projects and will gradually boost the annual production of hybrids. Related government bodies are making policies to subsidize hybrid car buyers.