How to Distinguish Between China 6a and China 6b?
2 Answers
Methods to distinguish between China 6a and China 6b: 1. Check the relevant content on the vehicle compliance certificate, which contains key information and will indicate the emission standard the vehicle complies with; 2. Review the environmental information list provided with the vehicle. When purchasing a car through official channels, the accompanying documents will include an environmental information list. The first section related to vehicle information includes an item for the emission stage, which specifies the emission standard of the model; 3. Query through specialized websites. After identifying the model you intend to purchase, you can find the specific vehicle identification numbers (such as the engine number and chassis number) in the related documents. Then, open the Motor Vehicle Environmental Protection Website and input these numbers to query the relevant vehicle environmental information, including the emission standard it complies with.
When I first bought my new car, I also wondered about this. At the time, the salesperson kept mentioning China 6 but didn’t specify whether it was 'a' or 'b'. Later, I found that the most straightforward way is to check the vehicle conformity certificate or the environmental information list that comes with the car—it clearly states the specific standard number. China 6a has looser emission limits; for example, the carbon monoxide emission limit is 1.5 times that of China 6b. When actually buying a car, you should also check the production date—most cars produced after July 2019 are China 6b. However, some manufacturers might switch standards earlier. A friend of mine bought a stock car last year that was actually still China 6a, so it’s important to verify the documents yourself and not just rely on marketing. Additionally, you can now check via WeChat mini-programs by entering the VIN, which is much more convenient than flipping through the manual.
