In recent years, vehicle emissions have become one of the main contributors to air pollutionThe Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) of China has been actively addressing this issue, with a focus on cracking down on fraudulent practices in the vehicle emissions testing and repair sectorsThe ministry is also working closely with several other regulatory bodies, such as the market regulation and transportation departments, to strengthen oversight over vehicle inspection institutions and repair facilitiesAdditionally, there is an increased focus on monitoring heavy-duty trucks, with specific efforts to conduct surprise inspections on vehicle owners and transport companies.

At a regular press conference earlier today, Zhao Qunying, the Director of the Environmental Enforcement Bureau of the MEE, highlighted the importance of continuing to refine the long-term regulatory mechanisms in the field of vehicle emissions

Zhao also emphasized that the government would intensify efforts to improve the environmental oversight of the motor vehicle sector.

According to Zhao, vehicle emissions, particularly nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from motor vehicles, have become one of the most significant sources of air pollution in ChinaData from technical units indicate that motor vehicles account for 34% of the total NOx emissions in the country, with heavy-duty trucks contributing over 80% of that amountIn some cities, this figure is even higher.

"Thus, controlling emissions from vehicles, especially heavy-duty trucks, has become a crucial aspect of tackling air pollution," Zhao stated.

One of the main reasons for the persistent pollution problem is fraudulent behavior in the motor vehicle emissions testing industryZhao pointed out that third-party institutions involved in vehicle inspections and repairs, especially those focusing on heavy-duty trucks, are critical to ensuring compliance with environmental standards

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When these third-party institutions turn a blind eye to malpractices—such as allowing trucks to bypass emissions controls or fail to install proper pollution treatment devices—the result is that many vehicles with excessive emissions are allowed to operate on the roads, contributing directly to air pollution.

Zhao provided an example: According to technical research, a heavy-duty truck meeting the latest "China VI" emissions standards will emit pollutants equivalent to 30 trucks that are in compliance with the emissions requirements if it does not use urea or if its pollution control devices are removed"Therefore, in order to continue fighting for better air quality, it is essential to strengthen the environmental control of motor vehicle emissions and severely punish fraudulent behavior," Zhao emphasized.

In September this year, the MEE, along with the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Transport, and the State Administration for Market Regulation, launched a special campaign targeting fraudulent activities in the vehicle emissions testing and repair sectors

This special campaign primarily focuses on inspections and repairs of heavy-duty trucks, with a particular emphasis on cracking down on institutions that issue false reports or conduct fraudulent repairs for trucks that exceed emissions standardsAdditionally, authorities are targeting the entire "black market" of emissions cheating software and hardware, in an effort to dismantle illegal networks that enable non-compliant trucks to remain on the roads.

Zhao further elaborated on the success of the campaign, noting that a significant number of illegal institutions have been penalizedAs of now, 650 institutions have been subjected to internet shutdowns and other punitive measures, while 580 institutions have had their qualifications revokedAdditionally, 110 institutions involved in serious fraudulent activities have been prosecutedZhao expressed satisfaction with the results of the special campaign, highlighting its positive impact on reducing fraud and excessive emissions

The data shows that these efforts have led to a significant reduction in pollution levels, with nitrogen oxide emissions reduced by an estimated 500,000 tons.

Traffic department data further indicates that the number of vehicles undergoing environmental repairs has increased by 30% since the campaign's launchA total of 151,000 non-compliant heavy-duty trucks have been brought into repair shops, where they underwent environmental repairs and began using urea to meet emissions standardsThis step has led to a notable improvement in air quality.

The special campaign has also resulted in a marked decrease in the proportion of problematic heavy-duty trucks in key regionsCompared to the first half of this year, the issue rate has dropped by more than 30 percentage pointsThe results speak for themselves: a substantial reduction in harmful emissions, demonstrating the effectiveness of the government's regulatory efforts.

The efforts to combat vehicle emissions are a critical part of China's broader air pollution control strategies

In addition to tackling illegal practices within the emissions testing industry, the government has also implemented a number of long-term policies aimed at improving the environmental standards of vehiclesThese include stricter regulations on the production and sale of vehicles, as well as incentives for companies and individuals to upgrade to more environmentally friendly modelsThese measures are not only meant to reduce pollution but also to foster a more sustainable and eco-friendly transportation infrastructure.

As part of the government's ongoing commitment to improving air quality, the MEE has emphasized that it will continue to strengthen oversight of the motor vehicle sectorZhao reiterated that the ministry is actively researching and improving long-term regulatory mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of these effortsThis includes making further improvements to the emissions testing process, strengthening inspections, and enhancing the overall legal framework surrounding vehicle emissions control.

While the special campaign has shown great promise, the battle against air pollution is far from over