BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Experts from the National Bureau of Statistics called for an automobile consumption policy Thursday in order to support and encourage more family-owned cars and improve the "auto usage environment" and protect consumers' rights.     

    Experts Liu Fujiang and Jiang Yuan said a unified and more opennational market and system should be established for automobiles to promote fair competition in local market.

    In 1994, China drew up its first automobile industrial policy. Due to the ongoing argument whether to encourage or limit more household cars, a corresponding consumption policy has not been issued. As automobiles are not considered ordinary consumption goods and are not under the protection of consumer rights law, the association of consumers can do nothing about quality complaints.

    The two experts said three major questions still remain in automobile consumption. The first is various unreasonable taxes onconsumers, the second is different consumption policies in different areas and the third is the lack of a stimulating consumption policy. For the above reasons, the high cost of automobile consumption restricted the number of household cars.

    They said automobile purchases require bank loans and support just like the real estate sector. Before 1998, China's automobile market developed slowly because of a lack of support. When the People's Bank of China allowed state-owned commercial banks to issue car loans, personal buying ability began to rise.

    After 2004, the auto loan environment changed totally, and loans dried up. By the end of August last year, auto loans had been reduced by 8.3 billion yuan (1 billion US dollars).

    Experts said developing auto loan businesses, establishing a personal loan system and increasing auto financial company development will play big role in encouraging household cars.

    According to the experience of developed nations, if the automobile is to become a pillar industry, it needs more personal consumption like televisions, refrigerators and washing-machines. Experts suggest the entire nation should organize a powerful leadership in stitution to coordinate relevant policies on auto tax,financial environment, energy and trade in order to narrow gap with developed car-producing nations. Enditem