Beijing Now, the City that Restores the Blue Sky - March 2025

Beijing Now, the City that Restores the Blue Sky - March 2025

The number of automobiles owned in Beijing exceeded 1.7 million in 2002 and was projected to reach 3 million by 2008. Since then, the number has continued to increase, reaching 7.88 million vehicles as of December 2024. This represents an increase of approximately 6.01 million units in the 23 years since the end of 2000.

Since the introduction of the Euro 2 regulation in 2003, Beijing has been strengthening its air pollution control measures. In December 2023, the Chinese government set a goal of reducing PM2.5 concentrations in major cities nationwide by 10% from 2020 levels by 2025, with the number of days of heavy pollution limited to 1% or less. This has resulted in a significant improvement in air quality in Beijing.

Beijing is promoting the introduction of clean energy vehicles and has set a goal of having 2 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) in its fleet by 2025. 500,000 NEVs were in the fleet at the end of 2021, and the goal is expected to be reached by 2025.

According to the current real-time Air Quality Index (AQI), the PM2.5 level in Beijing is 85, which is considered "normal. This represents a significant improvement from the severe air pollution conditions of the past.

As a related note, the number of automobiles in Beijing reached 7.88 million as of December 2024, and the Chinese government has set a goal of reducing PM2.5 concentrations by 10% from 2020 levels by 2025. In addition, plans are underway to increase the number of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in Beijing to 2 million by 2025, and the Air Quality Index (AQI) has improved to a level considered "normal" at 85.

Although the number of vehicles owned in Beijing has been increasing over the past 20 years, air quality has been improving due to stricter emission regulations and the promotion of new energy vehicles. Cities once known as "gray skies" are gradually regaining their blue skies. These efforts are expected to continue contributing to the realization of a sustainable urban environment.