Industry coverage of China's special purpose vehicle trade reports that the two countries tightened emission limits and age restrictions on imported vehicles simultaneously in 2026, effectively pushing older-generation chassis out of these markets and raising certification and compliance costs for exporters.
Central Asia adds a further layer of complexity: the five Central Asian states apply three separate type-approval regimes - EAC, VTA and TDS - and industry data suggests more than 60% of the region's niche vehicle markets record annual procurement volumes below 100 units, so certification effort has to be justified order by order.
The wider export picture remains strong. China exported 62,000 special purpose vehicles in 2025, up 20% year on year, and about 18,000 units in the first quarter of 2026, a 38.7% increase. Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East are identified as the main growth destinations, with demand concentrated in construction, logistics and municipal fleet renewal.
