What is a Passenger Vehicle?
2 Answers
Passenger vehicles are automobiles primarily designed and technically configured to carry passengers along with their personal belongings and/or temporary items, with a maximum seating capacity of no more than 9 seats, including the driver's seat. Passenger vehicles encompass sedans, minibuses, and light buses with no more than 9 seats. They are further subdivided into basic passenger vehicles (sedans), multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs), sport utility vehicles (SUVs), specialized passenger vehicles, and crossover passenger vehicles. The detailed descriptions are as follows: 1. Basic Passenger Vehicles: The concept of basic passenger vehicles is equivalent to sedans in the old standards, but their statistical scope differs from sedans. This distinction mainly lies in excluding certain non-sedan models from the old standards, such as the GL8, Odyssey, and Cherokee, from the basic passenger vehicle category, while including 'quasi-sedans' originally classified under light buses into the basic passenger vehicle statistics. Since the production and sales volumes of these special models are not significant, they have little impact on analyzing the market trends of basic passenger vehicles. 2. Multi-Purpose Vehicles: Multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) are a term recently introduced into the industry. They combine the functions of sedans, station wagons, and vans, with adjustable seats and various seating configurations, including front seats that can rotate 180 degrees. In recent years, China's automotive industry has developed rapidly, and many companies produce such models, such as the GL8 by Shanghai GM, the Fengxing by Dongfeng Liuzhou, and the Refine by Jianghuai. Similar products from other companies may also be included in MPV statistics. In the old standards, some of these models were classified as sedans, while others were classified as light buses. 3. Sport Utility Vehicles: Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) originated in the United States. These vehicles can carry both passengers and cargo and are designed for a wide range of driving conditions, typically featuring four-wheel drive. In recent years, China has seen rapid development in light off-road vehicles and SUVs modified from pickups, though not all necessarily have four-wheel drive. The industry generally groups these products together for market analysis. The new classification reform categorizes these models uniformly as SUVs, making the scope of such products in China broader than abroad. For better understanding of China's automotive development, SUVs are further divided into four-wheel-drive and two-wheel-drive types. Examples include the Changfeng Leopard, Beijing Jeep Cherokee, Great Wall Safe, and Zhengzhou Nissan Paladin. Under the old classification, except for some Cherokees classified as sedans, the rest were classified as light buses. 4. Other Models: Specialized passenger vehicles are designed to carry passengers or goods and perform specific functions, equipped with special bodies and/or equipment required for their full functionality. Examples include motorhomes, armored vehicles, ambulances, and hearses. Crossover passenger vehicles refer to those that cannot be classified into the above categories. These mainly include minibuses from the old classification, and any new models not fitting the above categories will also be classified as crossover passenger vehicles.
Passenger cars, in my opinion, are those vehicles used daily for transporting people and small items, which are quite different from freight vehicles like trucks. Anyone who has driven a few types knows that sedans, for example, are very stable, perfect for commuting to work or taking friends out on weekends; SUVs have higher ground clearance, offering spacious interiors and no issues with occasional rough roads; then there are MPVs, which have enormous space, making them especially convenient for family trips or school runs. Nowadays, there are more and more electric vehicles on the market, like Tesla or BYD's pure electric versions, which also fall under the category of passenger cars. These vehicles are designed around comfort and safety, unlike commercial vehicles which are more rugged. Honestly, when choosing a car, I prioritize the riding experience because driving something uncomfortable and bumpy every day would be annoying. Most private cars in daily life belong to this category, making travel more convenient and reducing the time wasted waiting for public transport.
