Among them, Detroit Electric is making its China exhibition debut this week with its electric sports cars.

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The SUV boom is a detour from Beijing's automotive master plan for China to become a leader in electric cars.

NPR: China's Struggling Automakers Jump On SUV Boom

A123 makes batteries for electric cars and grid storage, technologies that China sees as a huge growth industry.

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Unlike the U.S., Europe, China or Japan, all of which have multiple automakers building electric cars and pushing for the infrastructure that supports them, India has just one: Mahindra Reva.

FORBES: Mahindra To Debut An Electric Car On March 18

Moreover, Tesla is not likely to benefit from favorable government policies in China because, for the most part, they are reserved for electric cars manufactured in the country.

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He predicts somewhat crazily that by the end of the decade BYD will sell 1 million vehicles a year, including newly developed electric cars, and become the leading auto manufacturer in China.

FORBES: Thanks, Now Move Over

The move puts the Michigan company among a growing number of venture-backed American companies in the alternative vehicle space to land in China, where the government provides incentives for the development and purchases of all-electric and electric hybrid cars.

FORBES: An American Electric Hybrid Powertrain Maker Goes To China

By early 2003 Wang envisioned not only a share of the wealth from China's auto industry but also tantalizing synergies: BYD could use its expertise to develop rechargeable batteries for electric cars.

FORBES: Thanks, Now Move Over