Israel launches plan to allow electric cars import from China

JERUSALEM, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Israel is launching a plan to raise the import of electric vehicles, mainly from China, Israeli Ministry of Transport said on Tuesday.

According to the plan, Israeli car importers will be able to import up to 400 electric vehicles each year, instead of 200 as initially planned.

Some Israeli car importers and companies have a dormant license to import vehicles from China, as Brilliance and Chery models, but they cannot operate without the comprehensive European standard as required in Israel.

In addition, Israeli importers holding franchises for Chinese electric vehicles destined for Europe will be permitted to import them to Israel, even before these cars are officially marketed in Europe.

Thus, Chinese-Swedish manufacturer LYNK, which plans to officially market its cars in Europe in 2020, will be permitted to reach Israel before European marketing starts.

The 400 electric vehicles that each importer will be allowed to bring to Israel are a significantly larger number than all the electric cars that brought in Israel last year.

Only 145 Renault Zoe cars, the best-selling electric vehicle in Israel, were imported to Israel in 2018.