The few hybrid and electric vehicles domestic carmakers brought to the Beijing Auto Show might have surprised many visitors. Now, young home-grown carmakers are confident and capable of embracing cutting-edge technologies.

However, a recently issued green products inventory for government procurement of cars indicates that green cars are not only for show.

As the Chinese Government adopts a more environmentally friendly procurement policy, domestic carmakers should see that going green is both a source of profit and a matter of survival.

The implementation of a green procurement policy will promote green manufacturing and green consumption. From January 1, 2007, the central and provincial-level governments have been asked to give priority to products proven to be environmentally friendly.

But of all the nine car brands the government listed for green procurement, none, unfortunately, are home-made. Why? Only seven joint ventures have obtained the first batch of green car certificates the China Quality Certification Centre issued to manufacturers of energy-saving and environmentally friendly cars.

As the world's third-biggest car market, China has provided a golden opportunity for domestic carmakers to prosper in recent years.

Latest statistics show that both China's car sales and production increased by more than a quarter in the first 10 months of this year over the same period last year. Local carmakers have captured about 27 per cent of the market with low-cost cars developed by themselves.

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