IN A move that could spell the end for the ubiquitous line of black official Audis that snake their way along China’s roads, the Beijing government is considering plans to stop buying state cars from the German carmaker and other foreign brands and focus on local limos instead.
All 412 models approved for purchase by state agencies this year will be limited to Chinese brands, according to a proposal revealed by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
This could cause serious ripples among cadres and bureaucrats who treasure their Audis and their GM cars for official business.
Official cars are easily recognisable by their distinctive white number plates, and some have a grinding horn that the drivers like to blare as they zip along the emergency lane to avoid traffic.
Domestic cars still have a poor reputation among local Chinese, even if quality has improved in recent years.
Overseas brands still carry far more cachet and this is going to be difficult for the local producers to overcome.
The move would force overseas carmakers out of an ¥82 billion (€10 billion) section of the world’s biggest car market, the China Daily reported. Audi accounts for around one-third of government and State-linked fleets.
The government is reportedly keen to crank up efforts to protect Chinese carmakers from competition from overseas producers like General Motors and VW, which owns Audi.