Chinese government offers incentives to domestic electric-vehicle buyers

China's first indigenous purely electric supermini car hit the market on Monday as part of a government-sponsored project to encourage the use of energy-saving vehicles.

Roewe E50 buyers in Shanghai could save around 100,000 yuan ($16,000), thanks to government subsidies and an upcoming local policy waiving license plate fees, according to company sources.

The E50, a purely electric vehicle, is the result of three years' research and development by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp, said Shen Ling, public relations manager of the company's new energy department.

The car applies advanced energy-saving and safety technologies to ensure zero emissions, she said.

Other than government incentives, auto manufacturers are seeking to drum up buyers' interest with value-added services.

The target was to make the country a world leader in electric vehicles by putting 500,000 on the road by 2011. But the deadline has been extended to 2015 as a result of technological constraints and a lack of policy coordination.

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