When was China III introduced?
2 Answers
China III vehicle emission standards were officially implemented on July 1, 2008, marking the "starting time" of China III. Below are the key specifications of China III emission standards: 1. Primarily refers to HC emission values below 0.2g/km, CO emission values below 2.3g/km, NOx emission values below 0.15g/km, with no PM requirements. 2. China's Phase III emission standards are equivalent to Europe's Euro III standards, meaning the exhaust pollutant levels match Euro III specifications. The key difference is that new vehicles must be equipped with an OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) system.
I've been driving for over twenty years and clearly remember that the China III emission standards were introduced around 2005. To be specific, they were first piloted in Beijing, requiring all new cars to meet the new environmental requirements. The impact was significant because my old China II vehicle was restricted from driving in urban areas by 2006, making repairs troublesome and costly. Before the nationwide rollout in 2007, the entire car market was in a frenzy—friends were rushing to buy new cars or upgrade their exhaust systems to avoid being stuck. The introduction of these standards was mainly to tackle air pollution issues. Although it cost us drivers a bit more money, the air quality improved considerably in the long run. Looking back on those years now, the China III standards drove considerable advancements in automotive technology and raised awareness about the importance of eco-friendly driving.
