On April 30, 2026, the Ministry of Transport and the National Development and Reform Commission jointly issued the Notice on the Scrapping and Renewal of Aging Commercial Trucks in 2026. The policy explicitly supports the scrapping and renewal of commercial trucks (including diesel and natural gas models) that meet National III and National IV emission standards, accelerates the adoption of high-standard, low-emission commercial vehicles, and prioritizes the transition to electric trucks; the policy is effective from January 1 to December 31, 2026.
Funded by ultra-long special treasury bonds, the policy implements a differentiated subsidy scheme covering the scrapping of aging commercial trucks, the replacement of scrapped trucks with National VI-compliant or new energy trucks, and the standalone purchase of eligible new energy trucks. This initiative aims to further drive the compliant upgrading and green transformation of commercial vehicles, such as semi-trailers. Meanwhile, the policy mandates that local authorities refine implementation measures and strengthen the review and disbursement of subsidy funds to ensure tangible results, thereby indirectly stimulating demand for replacement sales within the existing semi-trailer market. Furthermore, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment is accelerating the formulation of National VII emission standards; these standards will reduce nitrogen oxide emission limits for heavy-duty trucks by approximately 60% compared to National VI and—for the first time—incorporate controls on non-exhaust particulate matter, a move that will raise technical thresholds for semi-trailer manufacturing and propel the industry toward a green, low-carbon transformation.
