Shanghai releases more car plates to curb prices  

上海私车额度破记录增发 拟为“天价车牌”降温

上海私车牌照拍卖价格自去年6月以来“九连涨”，3月已飙至9万元人民币。针对“涨”声一片，上海相关管理部门9日下发通知称，受车市降价以及“五一”假期的因素影响，上海4月份私车拍卖额度将增加2000多张，升至11000张，单月私车额度创历史新高。

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.