There are so many people, so many cars, so much smog and so much noise in China, that the government has stepped in to impose some controls.
In Beijing, people are generally allowed to own only one car. There are 6 million cars in Beijing. To own a second car, a resident of Beijing must get on a waiting list - and wait and wait and wait. The car dealer can strike a deal with a buyer, but the customer's permission must come through before the sale can close.
In Shanghai, the cost of a car registration is the limiting factor. It costs about $10,000. A license can be had for a little less if the license has the number 4 in it. The Chinese word for the number four sounds like the word for death which sounds like "suh".
In Beijing, people are generally allowed to own only one car. There are 6 million cars in Beijing. To own a second car, a resident of Beijing must get on a waiting list - and wait and wait and wait. The car dealer can strike a deal with a buyer, but the customer's permission must come through before the sale can close.
In Shanghai, the cost of a car registration is the limiting factor. It costs about $10,000. A license can be had for a little less if the license has the number 4 in it. The Chinese word for the number four sounds like the word for death which sounds like "suh".
 |
| Yes suh, I'll take a discount. |