Alternative-fuel vehicle output in the fast lane

Favorable policies and rising public acceptance gave a lift to alternative-fuel vehicle production last month, with output up fivefold year-on-year to 6,599 vehicles, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said on Wednesday.

Falling gasoline and diesel prices - the result of a weak global crude oil market - may make these vehicles a harder sell in 2015 worldwide. But experts are optimistic about sales in China.

China produced 83,900 new-energy vehicles in 2014, with more than 300 new models launched.