What was the emission standard in 2008?
3 Answers
Most vehicles in 2008 were compliant with the China IV emission standard. China IV emission standard: 1. China IV is a vehicle exhaust emission standard, referring to the National Phase IV Motor Vehicle Pollutant Emission Standard. Only vehicles that meet the national emission standard can be considered qualified. 2. Vehicle emission pollutants are controlled and reduced to below specified levels through the application of technologies such as improved catalytic converter active layers, secondary air injection, and exhaust gas recirculation systems with cooling devices.
I remember back in 2008, China's emission standard was already at China III, also known as National Ⅲ. As an ordinary driver with over a decade of experience, I personally lived through that period—new cars were required to meet this standard to reduce tailpipe pollution, like carbon monoxide and soot. Don't think it was just a minor change; air quality did show some improvement from then on. To check what standard your 2008 car meets, flip through the vehicle registration certificate or enter the VIN online. Speaking of which, 2008 cars might face more driving restrictions now, like being banned in major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai due to higher emissions. Changing filters more frequently during maintenance can help delay aging. Overall, China III was a crucial step on the path to environmental protection, and looking back, it holds quite some significance.
As an automotive enthusiast, I vividly remember the emission details of 2008—the year when China's National III standard was fully implemented. It was significantly stricter than National II, with particularly tight controls on hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. Back then, new car models rushed to upgrade engine designs, and some automakers even adopted catalytic converter technology. Verification is simple: just scan the VIN code with your phone or check the vehicle manual. Looking back, National III drove environmental innovation but also increased manufacturing costs, causing slight price hikes for many vehicles. Now that National VI has become commonplace, older cars from that era have lower resale values—for instance, 2008 models often get bargained down in the used car market. But on the flip side, it reminds us not to neglect exhaust system checks during maintenance to avoid performance issues.
