What does National III refer to in vehicles?

[Steve]

National III vehicles refer to: automobiles that comply with the National III emission standards. The so-called National III standard is China's third-stage vehicle emission standard. Below is relevant information about the National III standard:1. Clean and environmentally friendly: It can significantly reduce the emission of pollutants from individual vehicles, with the total emission of pollutants being about 40% less than vehicles meeting the "National II standard."2. New system: Equipped with an On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) system, thus individual vehicle emissions are lower, and the impact on the atmospheric environment is smaller.3. Scope of application: The National III standard mainly applies to light gasoline and diesel vehicles under 3.5 tons, equivalent to the Euro III standard.

[SiennaRose]

I've always been interested in automotive standards. 'China III' refers to vehicles that comply with China's third-stage emission standards, simply put, cars produced around 2007. At that time, emission limits for car engines were relatively lenient, allowing more pollutants such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides to be released. Vehicles under this standard are commonly found in older gasoline or diesel models, like classic cars such as the Santana and Jetta. Nowadays, with stronger environmental awareness, China III vehicles are considered high-pollution sources, and various regions have introduced traffic restrictions. For example, major cities like Shanghai and Beijing prohibit them from entering inner-ring areas, and they may even fail annual inspections. If you drive such a car, be careful to avoid restricted zones to avoid fines. It's advisable to check your car's environmental label or confirm the manufacturing year on the registration certificate—most cars produced between 2005 and 2010 fall under China III. Overall, these cars can still run, but with the government pushing for phase-outs, it might be more cost-effective to replace them, especially since there are subsidies to encourage upgrades.

[LeilaFitz]

As someone who has been driving for many years, I believe the China III standard refers to the vehicle emission regulations set around 2007. Defining which vehicles qualify as China III is straightforward: check the production year and environmental registration information. Vehicles from that era had outdated emission control systems, allowing higher levels of harmful gases like hydrocarbons and particulate matter to be released. Nowadays, these vehicles are classified under older standards. Some older vans and trucks, for example, face this issue. In city centers, you often see restricted zones where China III vehicles are stopped and fined if they enter. I recommend owners familiarize themselves with local policies—some southern cities strictly prohibit China III vehicles, and the northern regions are similar. The phase-out plans are making these vehicles increasingly worthless, and trading them in the second-hand market is difficult. The best approach is to regularly check your vehicle’s emission data and consult dealers or online resources if in doubt. In short, as environmental regulations tighten, China III vehicles are gradually fading out. Stay vigilant to avoid losses.

[StEmmett]

I encountered this issue while driving: China III represents vehicles with older emission standards, mainly some models produced between 2007 and 2010, when vehicle exhaust treatment was less stringent. Now, large cities prohibit them from running, with many restrictions in core urban areas. A simple way to check is to look at the vehicle nameplate or environmental label—older year models are the ones. It is recommended that owners upgrade in a timely manner to avoid restrictions.