This Day, That Year

Item from Dec 9, 1996, in China Daily: Visitors look at an electric car newly developed by the Ford Motor Co on display at the Beijing International Electric and Substitute-Fuel Vehicles Exhibition, which opened on Friday in the capital.

China will speed up the development of electric and substitute-fuel vehicles as a new springboard to profitability for its auto industry. The move also reflects the government's drive to maintain sustainable, environmentally friendly economic growth. ... The State Science and Technology Commission has listed the development of electric vehicles as one of the major scientific and technological engineering projects in its present five-year plan.

New energy vehicle sales in China have surged in the past few years, thanks to strong government support and measures to fight air pollution.