Pretty crappy reportage. Plenty of space to mention air pollution and fuel prices because of the influx, and cars designed with Feng Shui, but not a word about how American car makers are benefiting, if at all.
China restricts the sales of cars, by offering a set number of new license plates each year. And you bid on that license plate (usually around 45,000 and up - depending upon the license number - for a Shanghai plate). Demand is high across all of China as they get more and more money, and want better and better things.
Gas is about the same price as here in Seattle, too - typically I pay 4.7 RMB per liter, which works out to around $2.62 per gallon, on par with the $2.69 I paid yesterday at Costco, here in Seattle.
and cars designed with Feng Shui
Yeah, best to get a good VW or BMW or Mercedes. Some of the "design concepts" of the Chinese cars are a bit odd, to say the least!
not a word about how American car makers are benefiting, if at all.
Ford and GM make big profits in China, which offset the losses here in the US. both those brands are "luxury" brands in China; the Buick Lacrosse is considered on-par with Audis and 300-series Mercedes. Ford Fusions are THE small car to get, and they cost more in China than they do in the US, because they carry a US brand.