Shanghai releases more car plates to curb prices  

上海私車額度破記錄增發 擬為“天價車牌”降溫

上海私車牌照拍賣價格自去年6月以來“九連漲”，3月已飆至9萬元人民幣。針對“漲”聲一片，上海相關管理部門9日下發通知稱，受車市降價以及“五一”假期的因素影響，上海4月份私車拍賣額度將增加2000多張，升至11000張，單月私車額度創歷史新高。

Shanghai (CNS) -- In an effort to curb rising prices, the government of Shanghai will increase its number of issued license plates to a record high of 11,000 in the coming month, the government said Tuesday.

The government also said the car plates should be reserved for new cars only, and that second-hand cars with local plates can not be resold or change plates within a year.

These new measures are to take effect on April 20, the day of the auction.

The average monthly increase of the prices of license plates in the city have hit 10,000 yuan (US$1,612) this year.

The Shanghai government last month issued policies such as limiting the prices of second-hand cars with local plates. But this achieved little effect, as prices at March's auction exceeded 90,000 yuan for the first time.