THE number of automobiles is sure to reach 3 million in Beijing by the end of this month, according to the Chinese capital's Mayor Wang Qishan.

Wang has said that the number of newly registered automobiles in Beijing was growing 1,000 a day, Xinhua news agency reported today.

Wang just concluded an investigative study into ownership of automobiles in the national capital.

According to Wang, cars on the registration in Beijing had totaled 2.997 million by Wednesday, of which 2.18 million are privately owned.

"The fast increase in the number of automobiles in the city has not only brought along traffic congestion, but also posed great pressure to the city in fields such as resources and environment," said Wang.

The mayor pledged to treat alleviation of traffic congestion as an important task of the governmental work and stick to the strategy of giving priority to the development of mass transit and making it more convenient, fast and comfortable.