Re: Car ownership license cost. A recent study indicates that the cost is different from city to city in China. In Shanghai it is now RMB120,000 (US$14,500), Nanjing RMB60,000, Suzhou RMB80,000, Beijing RMB200 and Guanzhou RMB400. Beijing and Guanzhou do not punish people for owning a car!
The traffic congestion in Shanghai has improved significantly when the new elevated inner "ring road" was in operation a few years ago and is getting better with the opening of more new roads. This is much better than the situation in other major cities in Asia that I often visit, such as Bangkok, Taipei, Seoul and Manila. These other cities are not charging extra for owning a car.
In our survey conducted among the local managers, we also found out that the first on their priority list is to start ownership of a small apartment, then a car, then upgrade to a bigger apartment. Owning a car is symbol of prosperity....I can understand that because of the high cost of owning one. My neighbor, a local Chinese who owns a small electronic factory of 100 people, has just upgraded his to a Lexus 400. Most other expats, me included, drive either a Santana from Shanghai VW or a Camry (import).
RT - with greetings form Shanghai, China.
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