Here we have a Volkswagen Sagitar sedan, seen in the far east of Beijing in 2018. The Sagaitar is normally not a significant sedan but this one is thanks to its 京M·68888 license plate.
The number sequence is 68888. In Chinese culture, both 6 and 8 are lucky numbers. The number six stands for ‘smooth’, ‘good fortune’, and ‘happiness’. So sweet. However, the number 8 is way more important, because it stands for money! 8 goes for ‘prosperity’, and is generally considered to be the most lucky number of all Chinese numbers. A single 8 in a car’s license plate is already a big deal in China. Four eights is just luckier than one can ever imagine. Well, we all need some luck, don’t we?
The Volkswagen Sagitar is a China-only sedan made by the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture from 2006 until today, with many facelifts and updates in between. Our 68888 is an original first generation example, dated 2006 – 2009. The 1.6 liter gasoline engine delivered 100 hp and 145 Nm. The engine was mated to a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. Prices started at 138.800 yuan. The license plate, however, is totally priceless.