The Chinese consumer's desperate desire for personal automotive transport has been moderately satisfied. With close to 325 million cars on Chinese roads, the country endures eight of the top 20 most congested cities in the world. A survey out of Bain & Company found that in 2017 the number of Chinese who felt owning a car improved social status fell below 50 percent. After nearly two decades of growth, sales of new cars fell slightly in 2018.