Authorities in China plan to scrap restrictions on electric car purchases in cities across the country.
Released by the National Development and Reform Commission and two other departments, the plan calls for local governments to shift from restricting purchases of new energy vehicles to guide usage in line with local traffic and pollution controls within a year, The Beijing News reported.
Many Chinese cities currently issue a limited number of license plates through a lottery system. However, with increasing demand for electric car license plates, wait times can stretch as long as eight years.
The commission’s plan could ease energy demand and stress on the environment, boost the auto industry and upgrade consumption as well as foster growth in new industries, wrote Ren Ren, a commentator for The Beijing News.
In recent years, domestic car brands have established strong reputations, while batteries and other vehicle performance metrics have significantly improved.
As Chinese consumers are showing more confidence in new energy vehicles, scraping restrictions would not only capitalize on the trend but also further help new energy vehicle makers to continue developing without government subsidies, Ren wrote.
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