Economy cars with low production were among the best-selling cars in China in the first five months of the year.
Their reputation stems from soaring oil prices and more preferential government policies on vehicles with low emission.

Statistics with China organization of Automobile Manufacturers show that Xiali, manufactured by Tianjin FAW and well-liked for its low energy-consumption, topped the brand sales list in the first five months with a sale of 81,400, followed by Elantra of Beijing Hyundai with a sale of 73,900.

Among the top 10 brands, five of them were cars with low emission. But there was also a important leap in the sales of luxury cars with high emission.

The association credited the rise to China's new tax on luxury cars, which took effect on April 1. It had encouraged buyers to rush to buy cars before the completion of the new tax and expected price rises.

To build an energy-saving and ecologically aware society, China has outlined a series of measures to guide car use, as well as the release of restrictions on cars with low production in some large cities and consumption tax on high-grade cars.