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Plan released on new fuel standard

A work plan to accelerate the upgrade of fuel quality in China was released recently by seven government departments, including the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Ministry of Commerce.

The plan states that China will soon start formulating a new national standard - National VI - for fuel and diesel oil. The departments said they would issue the new standard at the end of 2016, and implement it in 2019.

A total of 11 provinces in East China will supply fuel and diesel oil that meets the National V standard, which requires sulfur content in fuel to be no greater than 10 parts per million, one-fifth of the National IV's 50 ppm, from Jan 1, 2016.

BAIC to expand new-energy arm

BAIC Motor Corp plans to expand its new-energy business from its subordinated enterprise BAIC BJEV to the majority of its self-owned brands, National Business Daily said.

According to the paper, BAIC Motor is likely to release its first plug-in hybrid product soon, and launch its new-energy business as a stand-alone company in the future.

The article said the plug-in hybrids will be produced on the same platform as the EV200 model produced by BAIC BJEV.

Recently, BAIC established a new-energy vehicle management department, to oversee the company's new-energy vehicle resources through research, development and production.

Motoring

(China Daily 05/18/2015 page19)