FRANKFURT: Global automotive manufacturers have appealed to the Chinese government to delay and soften proposals for electric and hybrid car quotas, a letter seen by Reuters showed.

The letter is a joint protest against China’s new energy vehicles (NEVs) proposals, which include a goal for hybrid and electric cars to make up at least a fifth of vehicle sales by 2025 with a staggered system of quotas beginning in 2018.

“The proposed rules’ ambitious enforcement date is not possible to meet, and if unchanged would lead to a widespread disruption of the product portfolio of most automakers operating in China. At a minimum, the mandate needs to be delayed a year and include additional flexibilities,” the letter said.

The letter, addressed to China’s Minister of Industry and Information Technology, dated June 18, signed by the American Automotive Policy Council (AAPC), the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) and the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA) called penalties for non-compliance unnecessarily excessive.

“Because we have common concerns with the proposed NEV rules, we have joined together to offer, with utmost respect, six recommended modifications that address those concerns while still meeting the goals of those rules and other related policies,” the letter said.

Carmakers have requested a delay to implementation of the quotas, asked for the system of credits to become more flexible, and for China to reconsider penalties for not reaching the quotas.

Foreign manufacturers want more credit given to plug-in hybrid cars, for carmakers to be allowed to “bank” credits accrued from already sold cars as well as to “carry forward” credits into subsequent model years.—Reuters