Relaxed policies tuning in to consumer demand

放宽政策适应消费者需求

China has revealed a sweeping package of measures to relax longstanding restrictions on car modifications, motorsports and classic-car collections, as authorities seek to unlock growth in the country's trillion-yuan automotive aftermarket amid slowing new car sales.

中国公布了一系列全面的措施，以放松对汽车改装、赛车运动和老爷车收藏的长期限制，因为当局试图在新车销售放缓的情况下释放该国万亿元汽车售后市场的增长。

The policy, jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce and eight other central government departments, introduces 17 specific measures across six areas including vehicle modification, recreational vehicle camping and car rental. It aims to break down institutional bottlenecks weighing on the country's massive vehicle aftermarket and cultivate fresh consumption scenarios amid strong demand for customized automobiles.

该政策由商务部和其他八个中央政府部门联合发布，在汽车改装、房车露营和汽车租赁等六个领域推出了17项具体措施。它旨在打破影响该国庞大汽车售后市场的制度瓶颈，并在对定制汽车的强劲需求中培养新的消费场景。

According to data from the MoC, as of June, the number of automobiles in China reached 370 million, with passenger vehicles over 7 years old accounting for more than half. This underpins a shift from basic mobility to personalized, experience-driven consumption, opening a potential multi-trillion-yuan aftermarket opportunity.

根据交通部的数据，截至6月，中国的汽车数量达到3.7亿辆，其中7年以上的乘用车占一半以上。这支撑着从基本出行向个性化、体验驱动型消费的转变，为潜在的数万亿元的售后市场机会打开了大门。

Currently, the domestic vehicle modification market stands at around 160 billion yuan ($22.1 billion). It grew 23.5 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of this year, outpacing the growth in vehicle sales by a wide margin, according to industry data.

目前，国内汽车改装市场约为1600亿元人民币（221亿美元）。根据行业数据，今年第一季度，该公司同比增长23.5%，远远超过了汽车销量的增长。

Wang Du, vice-president of the China Automobile Dealers Association, predicted that the new rules would trigger a surge in modification demand. "The market could reach around 300 billion yuan within one to two years, and in the long term it is likely to hit 1 trillion yuan," he said.

中国汽车流通协会副会长王杜预测，新规定将引发改装需求激增。他说：“一到两年内，市场可能达到3000亿元左右，从长远来看，可能会达到1万亿元。”。

Despite robust growth, China's vehicle modification sector lags behind mature markets, with the US market valued at approximately $53 billion in 2024, Japan at $24 billion and China at $9.5 billion, according to consulting firm MCR.

尽管增长强劲，但中国的汽车改装行业落后于成熟市场，根据咨询公司MCR的数据，2024年美国市场的价值约为530亿美元，日本为240亿美元，中国为95亿美元。

Many Chinese car enthusiasts have long been deterred by vague regulations and the high cost of reverting modifications for annual inspections.

长期以来，许多中国汽车爱好者一直被模糊的规定和恢复年度检查改装的高昂成本所吓倒。

The new policy tackles these hurdles by introducing a tiered and category-based management system, establishing a unified national list of approved modification items, and streamlining vehicle inspection and registration-change procedures. The overhaul brings the long-unregulated segment under formal standardized oversight.

新政策通过引入分层和基于类别的管理系统、建立统一的国家批准的改装项目清单以及简化车辆检查和登记变更程序来解决这些障碍。此次改革将长期不受监管的部分置于正式的标准化监督之下。

For example, the first category covers minor exterior and interior modifications, such as body color changes, replacing wheels with ones of the same size, and adding roof racks. These modifications can be conveniently registered online and do not require removal or restoration during annual inspections.

例如，第一类涵盖了轻微的外部和内部修改，例如车身颜色变化、将车轮更换为相同尺寸的车轮以及添加车顶行李架。这些修改可以方便地在线注册，并且不需要在年检期间删除或恢复。

Notably, off-road modifications — including raised suspensions, off-road bumpers and snorkels — have been legalized, providing compliant upgrade options for off-road enthusiasts.

值得注意的是，越野改装——包括升高的悬架、越野保险杠和通气管——已经合法化，为越野爱好者提供了合规的升级选项。

Off-road bases and modification shops in Beijing have seen a surge in visitor numbers recently, with lightweight personalization projects such as color changes, wheel replacements and suspension upgrades emerging as top choices.

最近，北京的越野基地和改装店的游客数量激增，颜色变化、车轮更换和悬架升级等轻量级个性化项目成为首选。

In Foshan, Guangdong province — a manufacturing hub for modification parts — auto lighting companies anticipate a fourfold year-on-year increase in orders for the second half of 2026, driven by demand for modified headlamps for popular models.

在改装零件制造中心广东省佛山市，汽车照明公司预计2026年下半年的订单将同比增长四倍，这是受流行车型改装前照灯需求的推动。

Separately, 40 pilot cities are pursuing differentiated approaches to auto consumption reform.

另外，40个试点城市正在推行差异化的汽车消费改革。

Beijing's Chaoyang district is focusing on standardizing modification services; Tianjin is developing modification industries, classic-car circulation and amateur racing; while Hainan province is integrating car rental, travel modifications and classic car exhibitions to create a model for automotive cultural tourism.

北京朝阳区正致力于规范改装服务；天津正在发展改装产业、老爷车流通和业余赛车；海南省正在整合汽车租赁、旅游改装和老爷车展览，打造汽车文化旅游模式。

Regulators have paired the liberalization with a robust supporting framework to promote sustainable industry growth. National uniform standards will be drafted for aftermarket components, requiring all compliant modification parts to obtain mandatory China Compulsory Certification, or CCC.

监管机构将自由化与强有力的支持框架相结合，以促进可持续的行业增长。售后市场零部件将起草国家统一标准，要求所有符合要求的改装部件获得强制性的中国强制性产品认证（CCC）。

Annual inspection protocols have also been revised: registered, legal modifications no longer force owners to strip out custom parts, resolving a top consumer grievance and establishing a stable regulatory foundation for the sector's long-term health.

年度检查协议也进行了修订：注册的法律修改不再迫使所有者剥离定制零件，解决了顶级消费者的不满，并为该行业的长期健康建立了稳定的监管基础。