China is the new Korea, which never quite lived up to be the new Japan, as far as auto producing nations go.
China's slow move towards private wealth is making cars available to more citizens. Thankfully for those of us who rely on air to breathe (or are concerned about CO2 emissions), hybrids will be a key part of China's auto mix.
Two Chinese companies - Roewe and Chery showed off hybrid vehicles at the Shanghai Motor Show this week. Chery's is a diesel hybrid, but it cannot run solely on electric power, so it's a halfa-hybrid. China has a particular interest in hybrids because of concerns about air quality in cities that are already smog filled from industry. Millions of new cars are expected to roll out each year in China, and that has environmental repercussions globally as well as locally.
And of course once Chinese automakers prove that they can build reliable hybrids for say, $14,000, they'll be sending vehicles to our shores faster than you can say "Shanghai Express." If I were a laborer in the U.S. auto industry, I'd only feel comfortable if my retirement packages kicks in by 2010.
Source: Channel 14
