In order to reduce emissions and control air pollution, the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) of People’s Republic of China has announced that the China 6 Emissions Standard for Light-duty Vehicles (LDV) will come into force since July 1, 2020. Many regions in China have taken positive response to the call and issued detailed rules and regulations.

The China 6a is a transitory stage from the China 5 to China 6. In comparison to the China 5, the China 6 standard will be 40%-50% more stringent, which also raise the requirements on the control of pollutants generated during the refueling process and requirements on the tests of hybrid and electric vehicles.

Shenzhen took the lead to release a notice that the China 6 emission standard for light-duty diesel vehicle will be officially carried out from July 1, 2018, and the standard for light-duty gasoline vehicle will be officially implemented since January 1, 2019. The registered light-duty vehicle in Shenzhen or the light-duty vehicle transferred from other cities to Shenzhen must meet the China 6 emission standard while the nationwide China 5 emission standard for light-duty diesel vehicle just took effect since January 1 this year.

The China 6 standard is considered a big challenge for both auto manufacturers and car owners. On one hand, auto manufacturers and components plants will have the new research and development, design and corresponding production in accordance with the new emission standard. It will take a lot in the cost needed in the human resources, material resources and financial resources, especially for the engine plant and automotive post-processing components plant.

On the other hand, the high costs will directly result in the high vehicle prices. Prices of the new vehicles are too high for car owners whose old vehicle models cannot meet the China 6 emission standard. Various factors may make it hard for consumers to accept the China 6 emission standard, increasing difficulty to promote the emission policy.

In the country’s big move of developing the new energy vehicle, some automakers may focus on the new energy vehicle products instead of researching and developing the traditional light-duty vehicles which meet the China 6 emission standard.