At a car show that ended on August 14 in Changchun, capital of
northeast China's Jilin
Province, half the manufacturers taking part highlighted
small-sized energy-saving cars, with many exhibiting low-emission
cars.
In contrast, according to a Xinhua News Agency report on August
8, 84 cities across China have introduced restrictions on small
vehicles.
It said that in Beijing, if your car's engine volume is 1.0
liter or less, you are not allowed to drive down Chang'an Boulevard
or through the center of the city within the second ring road, and
many drivers of 0.8-liter cars have paid 10 yuan (US$1.20) for
illicit 1.1-liter markings as a result.
The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has advocated the promotion
of small-engined and energy-saving cars, but local policy often
contradicts this.
For example, in Shanghai cars with a 1.2-liter or less engine
are prohibited from using the city's viaducts.
Many cities set a specific limit to the engine volume of cars
used as taxis; some even assigned models of car with large
engines.
Daqing City of Heilongjiang
Province stipulates that taxi engines must have a volume of
more than 1.6 liters, while in Changde City of Hunan
they can only be Satana and Fukang models.
(China.org.cn by Li Xiaohua, August 20, 2005)