Are Pickup Trucks Classified as Trucks?
2 Answers
Pickup trucks are classified as small trucks. Here are the relevant details: 1. Vehicle Type: A pickup truck is a small truck with an open cargo area at the rear of the cab, where the cargo bed and the cab's side panels are integrated. It is a passenger vehicle with a car-like front and a cargo box at the rear. Only small trucks with temporary permits are allowed to operate within city limits during specified times. 2. Performance: Pickup trucks feature a car-like front and cab design with an open cargo bed. They offer car-like comfort and strong power, along with greater load capacity and better adaptability to rough roads compared to regular cars.
I've driven pickup trucks for several years, and this is a pretty common question. From a regulatory perspective, pickup trucks are indeed classified as light-duty trucks in China, even if you buy those luxury versions with leather seats. This means you have to put reflective stickers, undergo annual inspections according to truck standards. What's interesting though is that the rear seat space in pickups is actually similar to SUVs, and now many cities have relaxed restrictions. When I was on a road trip in Yunnan, I noticed pickups could enter the city there, unlike in Beijing where they're banned inside the Fifth Ring Road. If it's purely for commuting, sedans are more convenient, but for hauling or off-roading, pickups are just perfect.
