Gas ban propels industry changes

Automakers will move aggressively to start building hybrids, electric power vehicles

With China announcing a plan to eventually end the production and sale of vehicles powered entirely by fossil fuels, domestic and foreign-owned automakers are expected to be even more aggressive in developing electric and alternative vehicles for the world's largest car market.

Xin Guobin, vice-minister of industry and information technology, said at an international forum on automotive industry development in Tianjin that the ministry is studying when to ban the production of cars that use only traditional fuels.