A chinese puzzle for the chinese government - how is it possible to increase the consumption of motor vehicles while at the same time discouraging energy consumption

The Chinese automotive market has enjoyed a major upturn over the last few years. This breathtaking growth in the number of motor vehicles brings with it numerous challenges in the energy and climatic fields. In this article, we will examine the various dynamics of the Chinese automotive market since the year 2000. We will seek to present the institutional framework developed by the Chinese authorities for the automotive sector in addition to explaining changes in the marketplace. Finally, we will look at energy questions raised as a result of the rapid growth in the number of motor vehicles in China. Although the Chinese authorities wish to increase the number of vehicles in circulation, at the same time they also wish to limit the energy consumption of the road transport sector. The increased prevalence of diesel engines among the Chinese vehicle fleet has already significantly reduced the energy intensity of Chinese vehicles, but although the central government is demanding low consumption vehicles, obstacles still remain such as the quality of fuel. Finally, we propose a range of forward-looking data or this sector, covering the period up to 2010. (author)