China to implement China VI b vehicle emission standards nationwide from July 1, 2023

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Starting from July 1, 2023, China will implement an upgraded version of vehicle emission standards, the China VI b, nationwide, according to a document released on the website of China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

According to the governmental statement, China will ban the production, imports and sales of vehicles that do not comply with the China VI b emission standards, which include stricter requirements on pollutants including carbon monoxide of gas and petrol vehicles, from July 1.

For light-duty vehicles of China VI b emission standard that only underwent monitoring during the Real Driving Emissions (RDE) test, a six-month sales transition period will be granted, allowing sales until December 31, 2023.

In order to reduce emissions from motor vehicles and improve air quality, several Chinese governmental departments jointly issued the "Limits and Measurement Methods for Emissions from Light-duty Vehicles (China VI)" at the end of 2016, and announced that it would be officially implemented from July 1, 2020.

The document also stipulates that the implementation of China VI standard is divided into two stages. The stage a began on July 1, 2020, during which vehicles that do not meet the China VI a standard cannot be sold, registered or licensed. The stage b will begin on July 1, 2023, during which vehicles that fail to satisfy the China VI b standard cannot be sold, registered or licensed.