BEIJING (AP) — China is telling thousands of civil servants to give up their Audis and get on the bus.
The Chinese government will force most officials to help it sell their official vehicles in return for up to $210 a month in public transportation aid, the state Xinhua news agency reported Wednesday. The officials will also have to help their drivers find other jobs.
The car ban is the latest move in a government move to mollify public frustration at extravagance by officials, who have had to rein in spending on banquets, cigarettes and private jet travel.
Xinhua acknowledged the public mood, saying many officials have wasted public money by using their government vehicles for private purposes. Chinese officials have embraced Audi sedans in particular as their ride of choice.
The new rules won’t apply to special services such as law enforcement and emergency relief.
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