Some local residents rush to car sales centers to make down payments for cars on December 29, 2014 in Shenzhen. [Photo: CRI]
The southern Chinese city of Shenzhen has announced a car purchasing restriction requiring buyers to get new car plates by lottery or auction.
The announcement does come as a bit of surprise, after authorities had for two years repeatedly denied that it was even considering such a move.
Starting from 6 p.m. yesterday, 100-thousand new vehicle plates will be offered every year in the city, including 20-thousand reserved for electric cars.
The number may be adjusted later based on road capacity and air pollution.
Traffic restriction measures will also be enacted in some of the city's busiest districts.
Xu Wei is the deputy head of the municipal traffic police bureau.
"Except for roads to the ports, other roads will forbid vehicles with non-Shenzhen plates during both morning and evening rush hours on weekdays in four administrative districts of Futian, Luohu, Nanshan, and Yantian."
Shenzhen is the eighth Chinese city to adopt purchase restrictions to tackle rising congestion and pollution.
For more on this, we are now joined live by Gao Shang, analyst with Beijing-based Guantong Futures.
