The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced on Thursday that China will pilot the digitisation of motor vehicle registration licences starting in July to improve traffic management services.

According to the ministry, the reform measure would initially be implemented in 60 cities, including Beijing and Tianjin, and would be fully promoted nationwide by the end of the year.

Chinese law requires drivers to carry both their driving licenses and vehicle registration certificates while driving.

Previously, the digitisation of motor vehicle annual inspection marks and driving licences had been fully implemented.

Traffic management authorities have issued 1.475 billion electronic inspection marks and 250 million electronic driving licenses.

By the end of May 2024, the total number of motor vehicles in China had reached 440 million, including 340 million cars (excluding motorcycles and trucks).

The number of drivers had reached 530 million.

China ranks first in the world in terms of the total number of motor vehicles and drivers.

Wang Qiang, director of the traffic management bureau of the MPS, said that in recent years, more than 100 reform measures were introduced. He said the measures had helped reduce costs by about $14 billion.

The MPS has also launched a unified mobile app called “Jiaoguan 12123” or “traffic management 12123,” which can currently provide 35 types of traffic-related services.

The app has 540 million registered users.

(Xinhua/NAN)