A car salesman in China was sanctioned after he allegedly spread rumors that Nanjing would impose restrictions for car purchases, which in return sent buyers into a panic-buying spree.

The salesman had repeatedly posted online from March 27 that Nanjing would restrict car ownership in the city. He also said that the public security bureau of Nanjing has bought a machine to conduct lottery for license plates, according to a government post on Sina.com.

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Authorities in Nanjing did not disclose any information regarding the salesman, the company he works for, or the details of the sanction imposed on him.

Buyers in Nanjing have bought cars during an auto show in the city on May 1 after the salesman’s online posts spread. Consumers were concerned that the city would halt car acquisitions upon imposition of the purchase limits, according to a post on the website of the China National Radio.

The report said car sales were so brisk as a result of the rumor that one car sold every three minutes during the car show. This caused the April car sales of one automobile company to increase by as much as 40 percent. Dealers were jammed with paperwork, even before quotas were enforced, after people made panic purchases.

Similar instances of panic buying resulting from rumored car restrictions have also occurred in the cities of Guangzhou, Tianjin and Beijing.

The reports on limiting car purchases started after Premier Li Keqiang announced that China would wage a “war” against air pollution.

There are currently six cities in China that have been limiting the number of license plates issued per year for newly-bought vehicles. Hangzhou announced limiting the issuance of license plates for new cars in March.

TagsNanjing, Guangzhou, car restriction