What emission standard does a 2011 car belong to?
2 Answers
2011 cars may belong to either China IV or China III emission standards. The methods to distinguish between China IV and China III are: 1. Check the environmental protection label issued during the vehicle inspection. A qualified inspection will issue an environmental protection label that needs to be affixed to the upper right corner of the windshield. The number of stars on the label indicates the emission standard, for example, three stars represent China III; 2. Log in to the official website of the local traffic management bureau to check the vehicle's emission standard; 3. The motor vehicle environmental protection website can also be used to check the emission standard by entering the vehicle's brand and model. The emission standard refers to the national stage of vehicle emission standards, ranging from China 1 to China 6, with the symbols i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi respectively.
According to my research, vehicles from 2011 generally comply with China's National IV emission standards, which were established based on the country's official automotive emission regulations. The emission standards are categorized into several levels from National I to National VI, with each phase progressively reducing tailpipe pollution. The National IV standard was implemented around 2010, and by 2011, most newly produced vehicles met this requirement—especially light-duty gasoline and diesel vehicles manufactured after July 2011, which were almost entirely National IV-compliant. This was because the government mandated automakers to upgrade technologies, such as improving engine efficiency and exhaust treatment systems, to address urban air pollution. For car owners, this has significant implications: National IV vehicles pass annual emission tests more easily, and major cities like Beijing and Shanghai impose relatively lenier traffic restrictions on them, making daily driving more convenient. However, if you're buying a used 2011 vehicle, it's crucial to verify the emission info on the registration certificate to ensure it wasn't misreported as National III or lower, as this affects resale value and longevity. Environmentally, National IV cars are cleaner than older standards, reducing harmful emissions.
