China to scrap 6 mn vehicles to reduce pollution

China plans to take six million high-emission vehicles off the road this year to reduce pollution, media reported Wednesday.

More than 2.4 million vehicles will be taken off roads in the municipalities of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province, along with another four municipalities and provinces along the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta, China Daily reported citing the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

China has been the world's largest auto market and producer for five consecutive years.

Pollutants discharged by cars are blamed as a leading cause for choking air pollution and lingering smog in many parts of the country.

In Beijing, cars discharged more than 30 percent of the capital's PM 2.5, a particulate matter with a diametre less than 2.5 micrograms, that caused hazardous smog, the report said.