Yes, I know Beijing has a lottery for new license plates, and Shanghai has an auction. Other cities use a combination of the two methods from what I've heard, so that less well-off people have a chance while also allowing them to raise some significant revenue from the wealthy. These restrictions on new license plates allow the cities to manage congestion and keep air pollution low. Also, there are separate quotas for hybrids/electric cars which give better lottery odds.
Yes, I know Beijing has a lottery for new license plates, and Shanghai has an auction. Other cities use a combination of the two methods from what I've heard, so that less well-off people have a chance while also allowing them to raise some significant revenue from the wealthy. These restrictions on new license plates allow the cities to manage congestion and keep air pollution low. Also, there are separate quotas for hybrids/electric cars which give better lottery odds.