CHINA

Automotive Blueprint Published: The government unveiled its plan for developing an automotive industry that can satisfy demand for car ownership by the country’s 300 million families, targeting a 90% market share for Chinese-based plants by the end of the century. The long-awaited Automotive Industry Policy, approved by Premier Li Peng in March and published in the People’s Daily last week, calls for removal of obstacles to private car ownership and introduces measures severely limiting foreign access to the huge market. The policy restricts car imports to six ports of entry and rules that the number and type of foreign cars bought must be approved by the State Council, China’s Cabinet.