File photo of ETC cards 

BEIJING, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- China has more than 181 million electronic toll collection (ETC) users, data from the Ministry of Transport showed.

As of Dec. 4, the total number of ETC users stood at 181.01 million, meaning that 94.84 percent of the total issuance task was completed.

Beijing Municipality and the provinces of Liaoning, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Hubei, Guangdong and Guizhou had completed the total issuance task.

The country has seen 100.34 million new ETC users since May 15, the ministry said.

Earlier this year, the ministry issued a circular to popularize the use of freeway ETC devices, with a target to install such devices on over 80 percent of registered automobiles by year-end.

The policy aims to reduce emissions and logistics costs and relieve traffic congestion on freeways.