Volvo Cars will launch plug-in hybrid versions for all of its line-ups, and hopes the new-energy cars will contribute 10 percent of its sales volume in the medium term.

Tesla will also localize its electric cars in China. The world's most popular electric car, the Tesla Model S, was included in the list of NEVs that the Beijing local government supports. This came two years after Tesla made similar lists in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

Buyers of NEVs approved by the central government would be eligible for tens of thousands of yuan in subsidies. If a model also happens to be in the list of approved NEVs of a local government, the buyer will receive more incentives.

Still, the most popular NEVs are not well-known brands but local models. Chinese automaker BYD's dual-mode Qin sold 14,747 units last year.

It is powered by either gasoline or battery. Last year, it was the champion among NEVs by sales. The Qin has already sold 16,477 units in the first half of 2015, leaving No 2, the BAIC E series, and No 3, the Zotye E20, far behind.