China has phased out more than 1.17 million vehicles registered pre-2005 a month ahead of schedule, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said on Wednesday.

All vehicles registered before 2005 were to be discarded by the end of the year to reduce vehicle exhaust and improve air quality. Owners, who must dump or otherwise recycle the vehicles, receive government compensation.

As of November, 17 provinces and municipalities had reached the annual targets to phase out vehicles.

Ningxia Hui autonomous region forced more than 25,000 vehicles with excessive emissions off the roads in the first 11 months, accounting for 137 percent of the annual target, the ministry said.

Jiangsu province however had a slower schedule and was urged to step up its efforts to phase out vehicles as planned, the ministry said.

For governments failing to reach the annual target, the ministry will talk to their top leaders to promote progress and public criticism due to their poor performance.