Japan

In March 2022, Japan’s Ministry of Environment reviewed its exhaust emissions control results for 2017-2022 as air quality in major cities has improved significantly with the current emissions regulations. Thus, the government is not expected to tighten the exhaust emission standards, except for the implementation of particle number (PN) limit from October 1, 2024 for new type approval and from October 1, 2026 for models in production.

Moreover, the government is contemplating abolishing exhaust emission standards in the future as it plans to have all new vehicles in 2035 be either hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery or fuel cell electric vehicles. Thus, SGS INSPIRE is of opinion that the government will not change the exhaust emission standards until 2030.