China has a growing love affair with the cars.This is clear at the Beijing Asian Games Village Automobile Exchange, where more and more people come to look and increasingly to buy. 

Alice Wu is an editor at a Chinese Internet publication.She takes the subway to work, but she is certain she can cut her commute time if she drives herself.Wu says it takes her three hours to get to work now.If she had a car, she says, the same trip would only take her two hours. 

The Asian Games Village Automobile Exchange is the biggest car dealership in Beijing.General manager Guo Yong says the business sells more than two thousand cars each week.Guo says it is much easier for Chinese consumers to buy a car now.In the past, it would take them several years to earn enough money to buy a new car.Now, he says, many people only need to save for one year.Also, the emergence of less expensive domestic brands like Chery and BYD means more Chinese can afford cars. 

For decades, most Chinese city residents got about by bicycle or public buses and trains.Now, in many areas, the number of new cars is growing faster than the road system, leaving city streets jammed with traffic.Guo Liang has wanted to buy a car for a decade, and he will be the first in his family to own one.He is not _ by Beijing's traffic jams.Guo says if the traffic is too bad, he will use the car for leisure or holidays with his family.Another customer, Zhang Menxin, works in Beijing, but is from Xi'an, more than 900 kilometers away.Zhang says it is very difficult to get a train ticket to return home for Chinese New Year.She adds that train is not convenient.If she had her own car, she says, she could go anytime she wanted to. 

World Bank transportation specialist Shomik Mendhiratta says, "Getting a car makes people feel like they have arrived to the middle class, and it's got a huge status associated with it.It's a fantastic thing to have."
What is Shomik Mendhiratta a specialist in?
Who does he work for?
What is a fantastic thing to have?
Do people like getting them?
How long did it used to take people to earn enough money to buy one?
How long does it take people to save now?
Is it more expensive to buy a foreign one or a domestic brand?
What's one of the domestic brands?
What's another?
Can Chinese people afford more or less cars because of them?
How long have many Chinese city residents used public buses?
What's the result of people using more cars on the road system?
What will Guo Liang be the first in his family to own?
How long has he wanted one?
What will he use it for if the traffic is too bad?
What else?
How far is Xi'an from Beijing?
What does Alice Wu do for a living?
How long does it take her to get to work now?
How long does she think it'd take if she had a car?
transportation
World Bank transportation specialist
World Bank
World Bank
A car
Getting a car makes people feel like they have arrived to the middle class, and it's got a huge status associated with it.It's a fantastic thing to have."
yes
China has a growing love affair with the cars.
several years
In the past, it would take them several years to earn enough money to buy a new car.
1 year
Now, he says, many people only need to save for one year.
foreign
lso, the emergence of less expensive domestic brands like Chery and BYD means more Chinese can afford cars
Chery
domestic brands like Chery
BYD
domestic brands like Chery and BYD 
More
domestic brands like Chery and BYD means more Chinese can afford cars. 
For decades
For decades, most Chinese city residents got about by bicycle or public buses and trains.
Traffic
Now, in many areas, the number of new cars is growing faster than the road system, leaving city streets jammed with traffic.
a car
Guo Liang has wanted to buy a car for a decade, and he will be the first in his family to own one
a decade
Guo Liang has wanted to buy a car for a decade, 
Holidays
He is not _ by Beijing's traffic jams.Guo says if the traffic is too bad, he will use the car for leisure or holidays with his family
Leisure
Guo says if the traffic is too bad, he will use the car for leisure or holidays with his family.
900 km
works in Beijing, but is from Xi'an, more than 900 kilometers away
Editor
Alice Wu is an editor at a Chinese Internet publication.
3 hours
Wu says it takes her three hours to get to work now.
2 hours
If she had a car, she says, the same trip would only take her two hours. 
