Jane Chen/ Shanghai Daily news

This month, 5,000 new automobile license plates will go under the hammer at the monthly public auction on April 16, up 25 percent over March, today's Shanghai Morning Post reported.
Despite the increase, some analysts expect the prices will also be up due to an expected increase in the number of locals who want to drive for themselves during the spring, particularly on the busy upcoming weeklong Labor Day holiday in May.
But other insiders think prices will not increase significantly, citing the latest motorcycle plate swap. 
Earlier this month, the city completed its fifth exchange of motorcycle plates for auto plates, resulting in another increase in the number of auto plates, they noted, and predicted that many buyers might take a wait-and-see attitude at this month's plate auction.
Shanghai sold off 4,000 car license plates at March's auction. The lowest winning price for a plate was 34,300 yuan (US$4,148), with the average winning bid at 34,684 yuan.
Shanghai is the only city in China which issues private auto plates through public bidding to control the number of cars on the road and reduce emissions.