A program for developing China's new energy automobile industry, that was first flagged in Aug 2010, is likely to be launched by the end of the year, according to statements made by an official from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) to an EO reporter on the sidelines of a conference in Chengdu yesterday.

Zhang Xiang, head of the equipment department under MIIT, said that the program had already been submitted to the State Council, but he also noted that "specific details about the timetable for its introduction or changes to the program are no longer in the hands of MIIT, we need to await the decisions of the responsible leaders of the State Council."

Zhang said that it is likely that the program will be released by the end of this year.

The draft of the new energy vehicles program was first revealed last Aug, at that time, domestic media reported that the program would be officially introduced before the end of 2010.

However, due to disputes about which technology to use and also the level of financial support to be provided, the release of the program was delayed.

Is the pure electric car the only way out for new energy cars? Should Hybrid Electric Vehicle be entitled to subsidies under policy? All these questions have been discussed without an answer in the automobile industry.