(Yicai Global) May 26 -- The Chinese hi-tech hub of Shenzhen is rolling out a slew of subsidies to get people making big-ticket purchases, such as new energy vehicles and personal computers, again as the recent Covid-19 outbreaks hammer sales.

Buyers can get CNY10,000 (USD1,484) off an electric car and the city will also subsidize berthing and port operating fees for auto shipping companies to encourage NEV exports.

There will be a shopping promotion on consumer electronics from this month to August. The government will offer discounts of 15 percent on certain products, such as mobile phones, computers and home appliances, up to a maximum of CNY2,000 (USD300) per person.

Shenzhen’s total retail sales of social consumer goods dipped 1.6 percent in the first quarter from the same period last year to CNY210.7 billion (USD31.2 million) amid the new wave. Whereas last year retail sales in the southern Chinese economic center jumped 9.6 percent year on year to CNY949.8 billion (USD141 billion).

The city is raising the sales cap on fossil fuel-powered car sales to 100,000 vehicles a year from 80,000 units, Shenzhen Evening News reported.

In addition, it will encourage telecoms operators to upgrade household broadband network speeds to more than 500 megabits for free. It will grant subsidies of up to a maximum of CNY60 million (USD8.9 million) to carriers which have 60 percent or more of their residential users equipped with such speeds based on a price of CNY80 (USD12) per household.

Editor: Kim Taylor