Clean and green

With the combined efforts of China's state-owned vehicle powerhouses such as SAIC, Chery Automobile Co and privately owned Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd, Chinese-branded vehicles held more than 30 percent of the market at the end of last year.

In recent years, Chinese car makers have been pouring millions of investment into developing clean-energy vehicles, joining the world auto industry in facing the challenges of environmental protection.

In the global race to build alternative vehicles, a Chinese car maker has actually become a trend-setter rather than a follower.

BYD Co, a battery-firm-turned car maker, recently rolled out the world's first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicle that boasts advantages over models made by Toyota Motor and General Motors Corp.

The Chinese government aims to have 60,000 "new energy" vehicle rolling on the streets by 2012. It is also studying proposals to give subsidies to consumers who buy these green vehicles.

Key milestones in China's automotive industry over the three-decade-long reform campaign

May 1958

First Automotive Industry Corp rolled out the first Red Flag sedan for use by high-ranking Chinese officials.

June 1978

The late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping made comments in a report that allowed joint ventures in the automotive industry.

March 1985

The nation's first car venture, Shanghai Volkswagen Automobile Co, was established under a partnership with Volkswagen AG.

1992

China's vehicle sales exceeded the 1-million milestone for the first time.

March 1997

Shanghai General Motors Co was established in China with US$1.52 billion in total investment.

October, 2000

Encouraging private citizens to buy vehicles was enshrined in the country's development blueprint for the first time.

December, 2001

China entered the World Trade Organization, paving the way for more imports of completed vehicles and spare parts with lower tariffs.

2002

China's vehicle sales exceeded 3 million units.

October, 2004

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp paid US$500 million to take a 48.9-percent share in South Korea's Ssangyong Motor Corp.

SAIC Motor Corp and Nanjing Auto bought the intellectual property rights and assets of the bankrupt Rover Motor Corp as they were eager to develop their own models.

2007

China's vehicle sales totaled more than 8.7 million units.

2008

China's BYD Automobile Co launched the world's first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicle and gained an advantage over Toyota Motor and General Motors.

(Shanghai Daily December 25, 2008)