What does China 5 and China 6 mean for vehicles?

[MargaretLynn]

China 5 and China 6 refer to vehicle emission standards. The differences between China 5 and China 6 are as follows: 1. The China 6 emission standard is an upgraded version of the current China 5 standard, imposing stricter limits on emissions of CO (carbon monoxide), THC (total hydrocarbons), NMHC (non-methane hydrocarbons), NOX (nitrogen oxides), and PM (particulate matter) compared to China 5. 2. China 6 also introduces new regulations on PN (particulate number) emissions. According to estimates, under the China 6 standard, light gasoline vehicles will see a reduction of approximately 50% in emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, non-methane total hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides compared to the China 5 phase, with particulate emissions reduced by about 40%. For heavy-duty diesel vehicles, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter will be reduced by more than 60% compared to the China 5 phase. 3. In addition to stricter emission requirements, the cold-start test cycle has been adjusted from the NEDC cycle in China 5 to the WLTC cycle in China 6, resulting in an increase in actual emissions. The dual-idle test will be changed to an actual driving emissions (RDE) test starting from July 1, 2023, leading to higher tailpipe emissions. Given that vehicle emissions account for 20% to 40% of air pollution in major cities, implementing China 6 can significantly improve urban air quality by more than 10%.

[DeHarmony]

China's National 5 and National 6 are actually our country's emission standard codes, like giving cars an environmental performance score. National 5 was fully implemented in 2017, requiring carbon monoxide and particulate matter in exhaust emissions to be half that of National 4; National 6 is even stricter, divided into Phase A in 2019 and Phase B in 2023, with nitrogen oxide emissions cut by another 40%. When I was changing cars, I specifically researched this—now most new cars sold are National 6B compliant. The benefits include not only less pollution but also unrestricted city access in some areas. Owners of older National 5 vehicles don’t need to panic, just ensure timely annual inspections, though long-term resale value may be affected. Friends planning to buy used cars should check the environmental label—registering a National 5 vehicle could face restrictions in some cities.

[DeDeclan]

Just a few days ago, I was helping my younger brother pick a car and we talked about this topic. Simply put, National 5 and National 6 are the national threshold requirements for vehicle exhaust pollution. National 5 is like a 60-point passing line, while National 6 raises it directly to 90 points. The main upgrades are in exhaust treatment technology—for example, National 6 vehicles must be equipped with gasoline particulate filters to capture fine dust. The most noticeable differences are the labels on the fuel filler neck, and National 6 models can even save you some money on insurance. Living in Guangzhou, I’ve noticed that all newly registered ride-hailing cars in the city must be National 6 compliant, or they won’t get licensed. If you drive a National 5 car yourself, there’s practically no difference in daily use, but you might face a price gap of several thousand when reselling it later. When choosing a car, check the Vehicle Conformity Certificate—it clearly states the emission standard.

[LeMaria]

China 5 and China 6 are two generations of vehicle emission standards implemented in our country. To put it simply, it's like upgrading a phone charger—the new national standard is more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. Technically, the biggest breakthrough of China 6 is the addition of real-world driving emission tests, preventing automakers from relying solely on lab data to cut corners. I remember when China 6 was first introduced in 2019, many automakers complained as they had to readjust engines and catalytic converters. For car owners, the biggest impact is the cross-province transfer restrictions—China 5 vehicles now face significant hurdles when changing ownership across provinces. I've noticed in parking lots that China 6 vehicles have noticeably more sensor wiring near the exhaust pipes. For friends planning to buy a car soon, I recommend directly opting for the China 6b version to future-proof your purchase for several more years.

[AnthonyAnn]

This topic frequently comes up in my research on the automotive market. The China 5 standard is roughly equivalent to Europe and America's 2010 levels, while China 6 directly catches up to their current standards. The core difference lies in pollutant limits—for example, China 6b requires non-methane hydrocarbon emissions to be 40% lower than China 5. During a maintenance check, I noticed that the catalytic converter in a China 6-compliant vehicle is twice as large, and the filter even has a self-cleaning function. A critical policy point is that major cities have basically banned the sale of new China 5 vehicles starting this year. If you visit a local inspection station, you might observe an interesting phenomenon: inspectors follow significantly more steps when testing China 6 vehicle emissions, including connecting to the onboard diagnostic interface to read data. As for subsidies for trading in older vehicles, China 6-compliant cars typically receive an extra 3,000 to 5,000 yuan.