Demand: China’s Unquenchable Thirst

The auto makers dutifully displayed their hybrid models at the Shanghai auto fair this spring.

Under pressure from Chinese authorities, they knew they had to show an interest in conserving fuel.

But look past the energy-efficient hybrids, which are unlikely to be sold in China for many years, and you soon glimpse the truth of Chinese tastes. The Shanghai show was filled with gas-guzzling luxury models and sports cars, aimed at China’s nouveaux riches and its fast-growing middle class.
The Globe and Mail