Why Do Only Chinese Cars Drive on the Left?

1 Answers
Nicholas
07/30/25 3:21am
The reasons for driving on the left in China include reducing modification costs and the influence of the U.S. military. Here are the detailed explanations: 1. Reducing modification costs: Most cars in China were imported from the United States, where traffic rules require driving on the right. Therefore, vehicles from the U.S. had to undergo modifications to the steering wheel and lights when brought to China, which incurred significant costs. The December 31, 1945, issue of "Shen Bao" stated: "Modification costs can reach up to 12% of the vehicle's price. The total expenses for modifying vehicles nationwide are enormous, hence the need to save on modification costs. 2. Influence of the U.S. military: Additionally, during the Anti-Japanese War, major cities in the rear and cities like Shanghai, Tianjin, Chengdu, and Chongqing after the war hosted a considerable number of U.S. troops. American soldiers were not accustomed to China's left-side driving rules, and incidents involving U.S. military vehicles were not uncommon. At that time, the majority of vehicles on the road were American, so transportation authorities felt that Americans were uncomfortable with left-side driving and proposed switching to right-side driving. Later, the National Government Military Commission formulated the "Improvement Measures for Urban and Highway Traffic Management," marking the beginning of the 'drive on the right' reform. The new rule took effect on January 1, 1946. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, this rule was continued.
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