Shanghai office worker Han Bin's optimistic bid for the car on a Chinese auction Web site, EachNet.com, was unmatched by rival offers the company said recently. Yonda Automobile Sales Co, the luckless company selling the car, tried to block the sale, but Han, 20, has taken his case to court in the eastern city's Luwan district.

"We have received notification from the court and we are expected to provide pre-trial evidence," said an official from Yongda's legal department, who asked not to be named.

While it is unclear whether the absurdly low priced sale was due to human error or a computer glitch, EachNet, China's largest online auction site, has refused to take responsibility for the transaction. The minimum sale price for cars is usually 60,000 yuan (C$11,500), Eachnet spokeswoman Shen Jiaxing said.

"We can't understand why the company placed the item into the auction category that holds no minimum price level," she added. Local corporate lawyer Rain Ding said that there is a strong possibility the sale will be upheld in a court of law. A decision in Han's favour would make him the owner of the car worth about 100,000 yuan (C$12,100).