Rush for cars in Nanjing

A busy auto market in Nanjing, capital city of Jiangsu province. Car retailers in the city have seen twice the usual number of customers preparing for a possible quota on license plates since Hangzhou in neighboring Zhejiang province restricted the issue of new car licenses on March 26. Yang Duoduo / For China Daily

Car retailers in Nanjing, capital city of Jiangsu province, have seen twice the usual number of customers preparing for a possible quota on license plates since Hangzhou in neighboring Zhejiang province restricted the issue of new car licenses on March 26.

Liu Juan, an employee at an auto retail store in Daming Road, said she can sell more than 10 SUVs in a single morning.

"Many people rushed to the retail store on hearing Hangzhou's quota on license plates," said Liu. "Some customers don't even want to wait for cars in their favorite colors or models."

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Because of the increasing numbers of customers, many retail stores have given fewer discounts or even canceled preferential policies relating to some popular cars.

"Now we only offer a 15,000 yuan ($2,415) discount on a certain model, while two weeks ago a 22,000 yuan discount was given," said Wang Ying, who works at Skoda's retail store in Nanjing.

"Although we just have gray and red colors for some models, customers will have to wait about two weeks for other colors if they don't place orders today."

In the foyer of the retail store, a banner hanging from the ceiling reads "Hangzhou imposed a sudden restriction on the issue of license plates. How soon will Nanjing issue its restriction? It only takes a second to implement the restriction policy."

Car retailers also sent out text or WeChat messages to potential customers last week, informing them about the car plate quota policy in Hangzhou and urging them to buy cars quickly.

"I really need a car," said Shi Siyi, a 32-year-old Nanjing resident who just purchased a vehicle to avoid the possible quota. "Once I put a piece of bread in my handbag after work and took the bus home. It was like a pancake when I got back. That's no exaggeration. That's my life. I don't want to be shoved and pushed in crowded public transport, and I don't want to try in vain for 30 minutes to wait for a taxi under the hot sun or in a chilly wind."

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