What period do China III vehicles refer to?
2 Answers
China III standard was implemented from July 1, 2007, and ended when China IV standard came into effect on July 1, 2010. Relevant information is as follows: About China III: There is no mandatory retirement document for China III vehicles issued by the state, meaning China III vehicles can still be driven normally as long as they pass annual inspections. The full name of China III is China's third-stage vehicle emission standard, equivalent to the Euro III emission standard. Current emission standards: Most regions in China are implementing the China VI emission standard. In these areas, vehicles with emission standards below China VI cannot be registered, and consequently cannot be driven on roads. The remaining regions are implementing the China V emission standard, where vehicles with emission standards below China V cannot be registered.
I've been in the auto repair business for over a decade. China III vehicles typically refer to those produced or sold between 2005 and 2008, as the China III emission standards became mandatory starting in 2007. Back then, brands like Volkswagen and Toyota gradually switched to the new systems. While these cars were affordable, they had higher emissions. Nowadays, they face driving restrictions in some major cities—policies in places like Beijing and Shanghai are giving old car owners headaches. My advice is to check the compliance certificate date when buying a car to avoid pitfalls. In terms of maintenance, China III vehicles experience faster part wear, so timely exhaust pipe inspections are necessary to ensure safety and save money.
