Shenzhen limits new car licence plates to fight congestion and pollution
Contrary to mayor's earlier pledge, city will only issue 100,000 number plates a year via lotteries and auctions, with immediate effect
Shenzhen residents were angered last night when authorities imposed a quota on new car number plates without public consultation or advance notice nearly a year after the mayor had ruled out such a move.
The municipal government issued a statement at about 5.45pm announcing that from 6pm, the city would issue 100,000 number plates each year via auctions or lotteries.
Until yesterday, any Shenzhen resident with a valid driver's licence could buy and register a private car. Shenzhen now joins other major cities that have imposed quotas to help curb the growth in private car ownership.
According to the city's transport commission, 60,000 plates will be issued via lottery, including 20,000 for fuel-efficient cars and the remainder for conventional cars. The remaining 40,000 plates, for conventional cars, will be auctioned.
Government organisations and institutions in the city will be only permitted to apply for new plates with official approval.
The commission said the policy was necessary to battle congestion and air pollution in a city where the number of private cars had risen by 16 per cent a year, to 3.14 million, but with only 1.04 million parking spaces available.