Over the last decade, China has gone to great lengths to tackle its air pollution problems. In 2016, for instance, only 84 of China’s 338 prefecture-level or higher cities hit the expected national standard for air quality. Tim Flannery, the author of Atmosphere of Hope, claimed that in 2015 China’s air pollution from fossil fuel use was taking an average of 5.5 years off its citizens’ lifespans. Change was needed, and, while not the sole contributor, the automotive industry was seen as a key area for improvement.

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