Gasgoo.com (Shanghai December 20) - The amount of automobiles on Chinese roads increased 150 percent from 2005 to 2010, Xinhua reported a recent study from the Environmental Protection Bureau as showing. According to the report, the total number of automobiles grew around ten percent every year.

China saw the number of vehicles increase from 118 million to 190 million in the five year time span. Automobiles accounted for the majority of that growth, with the number in use increasing from 30.88 million to 77.21 million. Cars with conform with at least the Third National Standards for fuel emissions constituted 41.1 percent of that number, while those conforming only to Second and First National Standards made up 25.5 percent and 20.6 percent, respectively.

According to EPB Spokesman Tao Detian, whether judging from a managerial level or technological one, China's efforts to fight automobile pollution have increased dramatically since 2005. The country has also made large strides towards eliminating lead and decreasing sulfur content in fossil fuels, he said. Despite the near 61 percent increase in vehicles from 2005 to 2010, emission levels increased by only 6.4 percent.

The EPB will continue to cooperate with other government agencies in ensuring the automotive industry in China grows in a sustainable and healthy manner.