Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC) is reportedly planning the phase-out of conventional fuel-powered cars sold under its own brand by 2025 as part of an ambitious new energy cars campaign.
The China Daily report cited remarks by BAIC Group Chairman Xu Heyi who said: "Our goal is to stop sales of self-developed conventional fuel-powered cars in Beijing by 2020 and stop their production and sales nationwide by 2025."
The newspaper said Xu made the remarks at an event to commemorate the opening of a new energy car technology and innovation centre it has set up in Beijing along with 14 institutions, including its new-energy car arm BJEV, Tsinghua University and battery maker CATL.
The report added that the facility is expected to build an 'open platform' that will facilitate cooperation among companies, universities, research facilities and even users.
The move comes at a time when new energy cars are gaining momentum in China.
In September, China has indicated that it will join countries such as Britain and France with plans to ban the manufacture and sale of cars running on traditional fossil-fuels. Xin Guobin, China's vice-minister of industry and information technology, disclosed that the country had started research on a timetable to phase out production and sales of fossil fuel cars.
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By GlobalDataWhile Xin gave no details on the timeframe, he said "the measures would surely bring profound changes to the sector's development."
Beijing is keen to see China move towards greater electrification in its transportation sector in order to ease environmental pressures and improve air quality in its big cities. A range of incentives are in place to encourage the take-up of plug-in hybrids and EVs – so-called New Energy Vehicles (NEVs).
Last year, China sold 507,000 NEVs, an increase of 53 percent year on year. Sales of pure electric vehicles surged 65.1 percent year on year to 409,000, accounting for 80 percent of new energy vehicle sales. By 2020, China wants NEVs to account for 2m of annual sales.