
By the end of 2020, Zhengzhou had 4.039 million vehicles, ranking sixth nationwide. Here are the relevant details: Data shows that the national vehicle ownership reached 281 million by December 2020, with 24.24 million newly registered vehicles nationwide in 2020, a decrease of 1.53 million compared to 2019, down by 5.95%. In terms of city statistics: Data indicates that 31 cities nationwide had over 2 million vehicles, 13 cities had over 3 million vehicles, among which Beijing, Chengdu, and Chongqing exceeded 5 million vehicles, Suzhou, Shanghai, and Zhengzhou exceeded 4 million vehicles, and another 7 cities had over 3 million vehicles.

I have paid attention to the motor vehicle data in Zhengzhou. By the end of 2020, the local motor vehicle ownership exceeded 4.5 million, which is an official statistic including private cars, trucks, taxis, and other types. As the capital city of Henan Province with a population of over 10 million, Zhengzhou has seen particularly rapid vehicle growth in recent years, with an average of more than 1,000 new vehicles added every day. Traffic congestion is becoming increasingly severe, with elevated roads almost at a standstill during morning and evening rush hours. This reflects the improvement in residents' living standards, but urban transportation has failed to keep up with development. It is recommended to focus on green travel to alleviate road pressure.

As an ordinary office worker living in Zhengzhou, the most intuitive feeling is that there are too many cars! In 2020, the traffic volume on the roads was terrifying, and every time I drove out, it felt like going to war. A friend of mine who works at the vehicle office revealed that the number of registered vehicles in Zhengzhou that year reached about 4.5 million. Just think about it, Zhengzhou has a population of over 10 million, meaning on average, there's one car for every two or three people. Parking spaces in residential areas are always insufficient, shopping mall parking lots require fighting for a spot, and even the roadside is packed with parked cars. The surge in vehicles has also led to the normalization of traffic restriction policies, with license plate-based driving restrictions becoming a common occurrence.

I remember news reports in 2020 mentioning that Zhengzhou's motor vehicle ownership exceeded 4.5 million, ranking among the top six cities nationwide. This data was released by the traffic police department, making it highly credible. That year, many people chose to buy cars for safety reasons due to the pandemic impact, resulting in particularly noticeable growth. Compared to other provincial capitals, Zhengzhou's vehicle count ranked second only to Wuhan in central China, indicating strong urban attractiveness. However, the large number of vehicles also brought air pollution, prompting the government to later intensify efforts in promoting new energy vehicles.

The 2020 vehicle statistics in Zhengzhou are quite interesting. Local media reported that the number of motor vehicles exceeded 4.5 million, an 8% increase compared to 2019. Three main reasons were analyzed: first, accelerated urbanization to a surge in car purchases among residents from surrounding suburban counties; second, rising household incomes resulted in many families owning two or three cars; third, lower car prices made vehicles affordable even for blue-collar workers. According to my research, private cars accounted for over 80% of the total. This massive vehicle base also spurred prosperity in the automotive aftermarket, with car washes and repair shops thriving.

Zhengzhou's traffic restriction directly reflects the number of vehicles. In 2018 when restrictions were implemented, the city had only 3.8 million vehicles, which increased to 4.5 million by 2020. Each odd-even license plate restriction reduces urban congestion by 30%. These figures indicate immense management pressure, with a parking space shortage exceeding one million. It is recommended that car owners prioritize public transportation, such as areas well-covered by subway lines for more convenient travel. From a development perspective, controlling the growth rate of vehicles is crucial for urban livability.


