Beijing Plates Harder to Win Than Roulette Spur Loopholes: Cars
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Raising the money was once the big obstacle to auto ownership in China. Now it’s getting the right license plates.
To ease congestion in the biggest cities, officials are trying to cap the number of vehicles. In Beijing, residents have a better chance of winning at roulette than in the capital’s monthly lottery for new auto licenses. In Shanghai, buying a set of plates in the city’s auction system can mean spending more than on the car itself.