China to See Heavy Polluting Vehicles off Major Cities

China is scheduled to restrict or prohibit heavy polluting vehicles in major cities by the end of 2015.

The vehicles to be cleaned off the road include "yellow label cars", gasoline and diesel vehicles which exceed national emission standards, and outdated vehicles.

All cities of and above prefecture level should meet the standard by the end of June 2015.

The Ministry of Enviroment says over 1.3 million "yellow label cars" were registered at the end of 2013, 10 percent of all vehicles, but over half of vehicle pollutants are attributed to them.

The State Council has ordered the elimination of 6 million outdated vehicles nationwide this year.

Authorities will put forward a "cash for clunkers" program to encourage car owners to replace their old cars with eco-friendly ones.