BYD 'green' cars get go-ahead for Beijing, Shanghai roads

Move called a breakthrough against local protectionism

Chinese automaker BYD received the green light to roll out its flagship new-energy models in Beijing and Shanghai, a move signaling a major breakthrough in smashing the trade barriers by local governments to protect their own "green" vehicle industries, experts said.

"The approval has increased the market space for new-energy carmakers, promoting the development of the domestic electric vehicle sector, because local governments tend only to support their own car factories and discourage other non-local car makers to enter the market," said Wang Binggang, an electric vehicle expert.