Turning on green light for clean cars
China's motoring millions have so far had little truck with environmentally friendly cars that might help clear up the nation's polluted skies, much to the detriment of Toyota Motor Corp's lineup of hybrid cars, but that situation may soon change as some cities start offering incentives to buyers.
Tianjin and Guangzhou, home to Toyota's local joint ventures, are becoming the first cities to let buyers of new Levin and Corolla hybrids enter lotteries usually restricted to plug-in cars, virtually guaranteeing access to coveted new license plates. The cities are rewarding Toyota for sharing some hybrid technology and know-how with local partners.
More Chinese cities are adopting the plate restrictions to control the number of autos on their roads and promote greener cars. These lotteries are routinely undersubscribed. Getting a plate for a gas engine-powered car is far more difficult. In Beijing, for example, a consumer has 0.5 percent chance of winning a plate in lotteries held every two months.
