
China National I standard vehicles refer to motor vehicles produced under the first phase of the national emission standards implemented, abbreviated as National I standard vehicles. In other words, most motor vehicles purchased between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2003, fall within the scope of National I vehicles. From January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2003, China referenced the European Emission Standard I, taking passenger cars with a designed seating capacity of no more than 6 people (including the driver) and a maximum total mass not exceeding 2.5 tons as an example. During this period, the emission standard limits that had to be met were: carbon monoxide must not exceed 3.16g/km; hydrocarbons must not exceed 1.13g/km; for diesel vehicles, particulate matter standards must not exceed 0.18g/km; and the durability requirement was 50,000 km. Additional information is as follows: Other phases of automobile emission standards: 1. Phase II: Between 1989 and 1993, China successively issued two limit standards and two test method standards based on driving cycles. By then, China had established a relatively complete system of automobile exhaust emission standards. 2. Phase III: Starting in 1999, Beijing implemented the local regulation DB11/105-1998, and from 2000, the national standard GB14961-1999 "Limits and Measurement Methods for Emissions from Vehicles" was implemented nationwide, bringing China's automobile exhaust emission standards up to the level of the early 1990s in foreign countries. 3. Phase IV: In 2008, Beijing implemented the "China National IV Emission Standard for Motor Vehicles" (referred to as "National IV") for all newly added motor vehicles in the city. The supply of National IV standard automotive fuel began citywide on January 1, 2008.

The China I emission standard was China's earliest vehicle exhaust regulation, implemented around the year 2000. Having driven for nearly 30 years, I remember that new cars back then had to install catalytic converters to control pollutants, ensuring carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions didn't exceed limits. The emission rules were modeled after Europe's Euro I standard, marking the beginning of environmental awareness. Before China I, vehicle exhaust was choking and air quality poor, but conditions improved significantly afterward. Although much less stringent than today's China VI standard, older cars like the Santana that met China I could still be on the road for several more years, though they're mostly phased out now. Historically, it drove the development of cleaner technologies and reduced sources of smog in major cities. However, owners of older vehicles need to pay attention to maintenance, as aging catalytic converters can cause cars to fall out of compliance. Overall, China I was a critical step in the transformation of China's auto industry, ushering in a wave of stricter environmental regulations.

Regarding China National I Emission Standard, it was China's first set of vehicle exhaust limitation rules introduced between 1999-2000, adopting Euro I as reference to set pollutant caps, such as controlling CO levels within specified values. As a young car owner, I always feel this standard is outdated, but it marked the beginning of catalytic converter popularization, leading to cleaner vehicle emissions. My second-hand old car is China National I certified, and it runs decently, but faces urban access restrictions—far behind today's China National VI models. Environmentally, it contributed to early-stage air purification, though current standards are much stricter with lower emissions. When buying used cars, checking the emission label is essential to avoid urban entry hassles. In summary, China National I represented progress, encouraging more automakers to invest in greener designs.

The China I emission standard, implemented in 2000, was China's first vehicle pollutant restriction measure, equivalent to Euro I. It set limits such as approximately 3.16 g/km for CO in gasoline vehicles. Requiring catalytic converters to reduce toxic gas emissions marked the starting point of environmental protection. I've studied its impacts: reducing air pollution factors like HC and NOx while driving technological innovation. Though less stringent compared to modern China VI standards, its historical significance remains profound.


