Daimler AG plans to start a pilot program to test an electric version of its Smart minicar in China next year, the Wall Street Journal reported. Daimler is currently considering which cities to test the cars in. The announcement by Daimler follows statements by Beijing that it will subsidize alternative energy vehicle purchases by private individuals. Chinese automakers like BYD have said that government subsidies are necessary to encourage consumers to adopt all-electric vehicles here. Daimler already sells a Mercedes-Benz S400 gas-electric hybrid in China. Nissan Motor said last month it plans to test-market its Leaf electric car in China in 2011 to government agencies and other fleet buyers in Wuhan. General Motors and Toyota are both planning to launch gas electric hybrids in China soon.
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