A great measure to publish the fuel

　　Citing an undisclosed source from Huang Jianyue’ SOHU blog, Beijing was covered with white snow everywhere in the period of New Year holiday, one day I browsed the website and occasionally saw the notification of the fuel consumption of more than 6,000 auto models in the current Chinese auto market. I have to say this act of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has brought some warmth to Chinese consumers in such a cold winter.

　　The actual fuel consumption of motor vehicles has long bothered Chinese consumers since there is little reference value of the fuel consumption data provided by automakers. A common practice of the automakers is to provide isokinetic fuel consumption with no reference value for consumers. The result is consumers surprise by the huge fuel consumption of the cars they brought as they take the isokinetic fuel consumption seems satisfying.

　　So the behavior of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology first benefit our common people.

　　In addition, taking the sales performance into consideration, automakers’ attitudes in publishing the real fuel consumption data are different. Automakers whose models have small fuel consumptions are surly for this measure while automakers with excellent sales performance but the fuel consumptions of their auto models are high object this regulation. Since the second type widely exists in Chinese auto market, it will be hard for the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to carry out this measure. In fact, the National Development and Reform Commission thought about publishing the fuel consumptions of the auto models in the market early in the year of 2004. After a long trial and multi-party discussions, this plan finally flowered in New Year's Day of2010.

　　In order to release the fuel consumptions of these 6,000 auto models, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology together with the relevant departments have done a lot of work and overcome many difficulties. The Government departments’ persistent efforts for the benefit of consumers are the second reason I want to applaud for this plan.

　　Third, I wish Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will advance this work continuously.

　　The publication of the fuel consumptions of all the auto models is just a beginning. To narrow down the wide gap between the indentified fuel consumption and the actual fuel consumptions by the highest degree is an arduous task to be finished in the next stage.

　　Seeing the list of fuel consumption in the publicity, the author immediately viewed the data of some popular models. Take a popular mid-size car for an example, people in SOHU AUTO forum commonly say its actual fuel consumptions are 13 while the number announced was 10, which is really a big error. In this way, the problems are obvious:

　　First: some automakers submitted false date to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology so as to ensure sales performance.

　　Second: since a large number of auto models involved, it is almost impossible for the government administrations to verify all the data for firstly the costs will be very high and secondly the lacking of a third-party testing organization provides space for the fraud behaviors.

　　Third: consumers will definitely take the data released by Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as a decision-making reference of their buying behaviors due to its strong public credibility, which, on the contrary, will mislead them continuously.

　　Four: will the government administrations establish a random inspections system or offence reporting mechanism to these fraud behaviors?

　　Five: are there any specific punitive measures to the automakers that have fraud behaviors?

　　Nothing will be perfect. For us, the most important thing is to move on constantly. There is no doubt that Ministry of Industry and Information Technology have done a good deal. I wish they will be persevered in this hard but meaningful career.

　　See original Chinese report Please click:

　　http://carpenter.blog.sohu.com/141287215.html

　　(Translator: Yalong/Jessie)