Why can't the AE86 be driven on the road in China?
2 Answers
Because the AE86 is a car from the 1980s, it was discontinued early, and most of its conditions do not meet China's emission policies, with safety being a serious issue, and spare parts for repairs are scarce. Below is the relevant introduction: 1. Overview: The AE86 was the fifth-generation model first produced by COROLLA in 1983. The AE86 is the chassis code for this model, and the official name of this car is 'Corolla.' 2. Basic Information: The code 'AE86' contains the basic information of this car: 'A' indicates that the car is equipped with Toyota's 4A series engine, 'E' represents Corolla under Toyota's brand, '8' stands for the E80 series, which is the fifth-generation Corolla, and '6' indicates the version of the model.
With twenty years of experience in auto repair, I can say the AE86 isn't road-legal in our country primarily due to its outdated design—its emissions and safety features fall far short of modern standards. China now mandates that new vehicles meet the China VI emission standards, but the AE86, being a product of the 1980s, emits exhaust gases at absurdly high levels that easily exceed limits during testing, making it impossible to pass environmental inspections. Additionally, the car lacks essential safety equipment like ABS and airbags, failing to meet national safety regulations. There's also the design issue: most original AE86 models are right-hand drive, but China's traffic laws strictly limit right-hand-drive vehicles on public roads. Converting to left-hand drive is both troublesome and unreliable. Parts are extremely hard to source, all being imported, meaning repairs could leave you waiting for months. Overall, while it's a classic, the AE86 poses too many road hazards and comes with high maintenance costs—better suited for garage collections or track use.
