BEIJING, Feb. 19 -- China has exempted roughly 42,800 buyers of new-energy vehicles from a 10-percent purchase tax since a new policy became effective last September, an official statement said.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said in the statement on its website that it has designated three types of 377 new energy vehicle models from 57 manufacturers that might benefit from the tax exemption.

From September 2014 to January 2015, about 42,800 owners enjoyed the exemption, including owners of 36,600 passenger vehicles and 6,207 commercial vehicles.

The Chinese government rolled out the policy in a bid to save energy and reduce pollution.

From Sept. 1, 2014 to the end of 2017, buyers of qualified pure electric cars, plug-in hybrid electric cars and fuel cell cars will not have to pay the vehicle purchase tax.