Comments on: China’s Faustian Bargain With the Auto Industry http://www.chinahearsay.com/chinas-faustian-bargain-with-the-auto-industry/ China law, business and economics commentary Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:11:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Stan http://www.chinahearsay.com/chinas-faustian-bargain-with-the-auto-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-74878 Stan Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:50:01 +0000 http://www.chinahearsay.com/?p=3151#comment-74878 No reason to compare with US. We're already up to our eyeballs in cars and nowhere near US per capita numbers. In other words, it's already a big problem and in need of a solution. As far as oil prices go, remember that China keeps the price down artificially, so consumers are not reacting to real market forces. No reason to compare with US. We’re already up to our eyeballs in cars and nowhere near US per capita numbers. In other words, it’s already a big problem and in need of a solution.

As far as oil prices go, remember that China keeps the price down artificially, so consumers are not reacting to real market forces.

]]> By: Chris http://www.chinahearsay.com/chinas-faustian-bargain-with-the-auto-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-74876 Chris Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:01:37 +0000 http://www.chinahearsay.com/?p=3151#comment-74876 It is difficult to imagine a China with the same level of car ownership as the US or Europe while still managing to operate. The density of housing in most Chinese cities would mean that there would not be enough parking spaces or enough space on the roads even if they did away with the bike lanes and the sidewalks. It would be a big shame to have a China where the minority who could afford a parking space for their car clogged up all the roads for the majority who still relied on public transport. While car ownership in China is increasing rapidly, it isn't at that level yet (apart from perhaps the biggest cities) Let's hope that oil becomes expensive enough soon enough to discourage the rest of China from following suit. It is difficult to imagine a China with the same level of car ownership as the US or Europe while still managing to operate. The density of housing in most Chinese cities would mean that there would not be enough parking spaces or enough space on the roads even if they did away with the bike lanes and the sidewalks.

It would be a big shame to have a China where the minority who could afford a parking space for their car clogged up all the roads for the majority who still relied on public transport.

While car ownership in China is increasing rapidly, it isn’t at that level yet (apart from perhaps the biggest cities) Let’s hope that oil becomes expensive enough soon enough to discourage the rest of China from following suit.

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