What is the impact of China VI on parallel imported vehicles?
3 Answers
It is understood that China VI is divided into China VI A and China VI B, with China VI B being much stricter than China VI A. However, when we talk about parallel imported vehicles, these two emission standards do not affect us because, in the field of parallel imported vehicles, it is said that vehicles that meet the China VI standard directly comply with China VI B, while those that do not meet the standard cannot even reach the threshold of China VI A. As we all know, parallel imported vehicles are divided into five major versions: the US version, Canadian version, Mexican version, Middle East version, and European version. Parallel imported vehicles are distinguished based on these versions to determine whether their emission standards comply with China VI. Under the current circumstances, the Canadian and US versions comply with China VI emission standards because the emission standards in Canada and the US are stricter than the requirements of China VI. As for the other three versions, although the European version has implemented Euro VI, the regulations of Euro VI do not meet the requirements of China VI, and the remaining Mexican version and Middle East version also do not comply with China VI requirements. At the same time, there are still many uncertainties regarding the China VI emission policy, such as whether vehicles produced after July 1st must comply with China VI emissions to be registered? Will newly imported vehicles undergo environmental testing, and how will those that meet China VI emission standards be handled? With the implementation of China VI emissions, purchasing a car now may offer certain discounts to some extent, but it may not be the best time to buy at the lowest price because, for parallel imported models that meet "China V," there is still a one-year sales period in some domestic regions, so car dealers are not in a hurry to sell them off.
I had my eye on a parallel-imported American pickup truck—cheap and the latest model. But as soon as the China VI emission standards kicked in, the trouble began. The dealer said the vehicle failed the tailpipe emissions test and couldn’t be registered directly. It would need professional testing, possibly requiring a catalytic converter retrofit or engine adjustments, which would take time and money. I originally planned to drive the new truck back to my hometown by year-end, but now, months later, I’m still stuck dealing with paperwork. It’s incredibly frustrating. While China VI aims to reduce pollution and smog, it’s a huge blow to regular folks like me trying to snag a good deal. Not only are there fewer options, but it also adds cost and uncertainty to the buying process. The policy feels like a one-size-fits-all approach, stripping away the flexibility that made parallel imports appealing. Many of my friends have already switched to buying official models instead.
I've been running a small parallel import car shop for over a decade, specializing in Middle East edition off-road vehicles, and business used to be good. But after the implementation of the China VI emission standards, we've been hit hard: many of our inventory vehicles don't meet the emission requirements and can't be registered for license plates, just sitting there collecting dust. We have to spend extra money hiring experts for testing and modifications, putting immense financial pressure on us, with sales dropping by over 30%. The mandatory enforcement of these standards, while a step forward for environmental protection, has severely impacted the parallel import market since most of these vehicles are overseas custom editions with emission systems that struggle to meet the requirements. Where we used to make decent monthly profits, now we're barely scraping by, with many of us worrying about switching careers or closing down. I advise car buyers to always check the emission compliance before purchasing to avoid falling into the same trap as I did.
