Struggle to meet new-energy goals

Also using Tesla as an example, Minister of Industry and Information Technology Miao Wei, said that the Chinese auto industry should think about innovation in business models in addition to technological innovation.

Despite China's enthusiasm for pure electric vehicles many automakers feel hybrid models will be more popular for several years to come.

Evidence of this is that most of the 79 new-energy models unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show were hybrids.

Hybrids will be the focus for Volkswagen in the Chinese market in the next 10 years due to undeveloped battery technology, said President of Volkswagen Group China Jochem Heizmann in an interview with news portal Tencent.com in November.

Winfried Vahland, chairman of Skoda Auto, agreed. He said he expected breakthroughs in battery technology in the years to come.

"In 10 years, the battery capacity will increase 2.5 to 3 times to extend a one-charge travel distance to 300 to 400 km. At that time, the battery cost will also be reduced by 50 percent. That's the time for wide use of pure electrics," he told China Daily in an earlier interview.