Beijing weighs plans to stimulate auto demand

BEIJING/SHANGHAI: China’s capital city Beijing is considering plans to stimulate demand for automobiles after the coronavirus epidemic hit sales badly, the state-backed Beijing News newspaper reported today.

It said possible measures being considered by Beijing include introducing incentives to trade in old cars for new, approving at least 100,000 licences to new energy vehicle buyers in the first half of 2020 and launching special plate licences for suburban areas, the newspaper said, citing a statement from China’s commerce ministry.