Photo: Daimler AG
The noose is tightening around the very thick neck of the internal combustion engine, and if this latest development gets the nod from the local authorities, it might just become the final blow dealt to a technology continuously developed over the past century.
Gas- and diesel-powered cars are under close scrutiny all over the world for their role in green house gas emissions and other polluting particles. Countries like France and the United Kingdom have already announced a ban on the sales of fuel-burning cars at some point in the future, the furthest away being 2040.
In the grand scheme of things, these wouldn't have the greatest impact of all and the automotive industry would be able to survive on what's left of the global market. However, if the world's largest market were to join the party, things would change significantly - and that's precisely what seems bound to happen.
According to Bloomberg, a high-ranking Chinese government official said the country's authorities are working on the timetable and implementation of such a program. He didn't provide any more info as since it's still work in progress, he probably wasn't even allowed to, but the simple idea of this happening should give car makers the chills.
The decision looks to end all production and sales of gas and diesel cars at some point in the future, meaning it would have a major impact on both the environment, but also on China's own industry. The country is already the biggest supporter of EV development with a myriad of local brands producing battery-powered cars and almost every new global startup specializing in this technology having Chinese financial backing.
China was forced to turn to EVs after the very severe air pollution affecting its greatest metropoles. The country was forced to cut all traffic for a few days and shut down industries around Beijing in September 2015 for a military parade just so the public could see the jets in the sky.
The fate of the automotive industry hangs on the Chinese government's final verdict on this matter, and you can be sure all manufacturers are keeping a close eye on the developments. Most of them have already intensified their electrification efforts, and we wouldn't be surprised if the trend picked up the pace if the decision passes. And then who's to say that other countries won't follow in the meantime?
In the grand scheme of things, these wouldn't have the greatest impact of all and the automotive industry would be able to survive on what's left of the global market. However, if the world's largest market were to join the party, things would change significantly - and that's precisely what seems bound to happen.
According to Bloomberg, a high-ranking Chinese government official said the country's authorities are working on the timetable and implementation of such a program. He didn't provide any more info as since it's still work in progress, he probably wasn't even allowed to, but the simple idea of this happening should give car makers the chills.
The decision looks to end all production and sales of gas and diesel cars at some point in the future, meaning it would have a major impact on both the environment, but also on China's own industry. The country is already the biggest supporter of EV development with a myriad of local brands producing battery-powered cars and almost every new global startup specializing in this technology having Chinese financial backing.
China was forced to turn to EVs after the very severe air pollution affecting its greatest metropoles. The country was forced to cut all traffic for a few days and shut down industries around Beijing in September 2015 for a military parade just so the public could see the jets in the sky.
The fate of the automotive industry hangs on the Chinese government's final verdict on this matter, and you can be sure all manufacturers are keeping a close eye on the developments. Most of them have already intensified their electrification efforts, and we wouldn't be surprised if the trend picked up the pace if the decision passes. And then who's to say that other countries won't follow in the meantime?
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