Used car market is gloomy due to information about emission control and gasoline vehicle restrictions.

The used car market became gloomy when information about Ho Chi Minh City proposed to apply a series of new regulations on emission control and establish low emission zones (LEZ).

Used car market in Ho Chi Minh City slows down due to new emission roadmap.

Sellers worry about "unsold" products, buyers wait for "schedule"

At used car shops on the outskirts of the city center, the first days of October are no longer as bustling as before. Mr. Dao Kim Quang, owner of Hoang Dao Auto Garage (Binh Hung Hoa Ward) shared: "The used car market has completely stagnated. Customers still come to look at the cars but very few make purchases. They heard about the upcoming emission tightening and the low emission zone in the city center, so everyone is hesitant."

In fact, the psychology of used car buyers is being strongly influenced by two factors: the roadmap for raising emission standards and the project to establish a low emission zone (LEZ). According to the draft regulations on the roadmap for applying emission standards proposed by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, from 2026, cars manufactured from 2022 onwards will have to meet level 4 emission standards nationwide. Particularly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, this group of cars is expected to reach level 5 from 2027, while other localities will apply level 5 from 2028.

Mr. Dao Kim Quang, owner of Hoang Dao auto garage, is checking the car's system.

This is just a proposal in the draft that is being consulted and has not yet taken official legal effect, but it has made the used car market cautious, especially with low-end car models that are at risk of not meeting the new standards in the near future.

At the same time, Ho Chi Minh City is implementing a project to establish a low emission zone (LEZ) - a "breakthrough" step in the strategy to control air pollution and shape green traffic habits.

According to this project, in the first phase from 2026, the City will restrict the operation of technology vehicles and transport business vehicles using gasoline and diesel fuel that do not meet emission standards in the central area. At the same time, a pilot model to limit the circulation of vehicles below emission standards will also be applied on Rung Sac Street (from Binh Khanh ferry to Duyen Hai Street, Can Gio District).

Mr. Ta Cong Tien's (yellow shirt) American-style car market currently focuses on the mid-range and higher used car segment, meeting emission standards and market demand.

“When they heard that there was going to be a ban on gasoline vehicles, many people did not dare to buy low-end cars anymore. Cars manufactured before 2015 were offered very low prices, and some cars were left for 3-4 months without being sold,” Mr. Quang added.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, the low emission zone (LEZ) is an area that restricts the circulation of polluting motor vehicles, concentrated primarily in the central area, which is limited by 15 bridges and 20 main roads. This is an area with high traffic density, high population density and the most vibrant economic activities.

Therefore, Ho Chi Minh City has divided it into phases to ensure feasibility. The first phase (2026 - 2027) will focus on commercial vehicles and technology vehicles, before expanding to private cars. This is not only to reduce pollution but also to form a clean transportation culture, encouraging people to switch to fuel-efficient vehicles, electric or hybrid vehicles.

Mr. Ta Cong Tien, Director of American Car Market Joint Stock Company, said: “This is a positive trend, but in the short term, the used car market will certainly be difficult. Vehicles that do not meet emission standards, especially those below Euro 4, will have a sharp price reduction. On the contrary, new cars, cars that meet Euro 5 standards or electric cars have the opportunity to increase in price.”

According to experts, the used car market in Ho Chi Minh City is "purifying" itself, prioritizing vehicles that meet emission standards and are of good quality.

In fact, many parking lot owners have begun to proactively “filter goods”, only keeping cars from 2016 or later, with periodic maintenance papers or with emission test results that meet standards. “We do not dare import any cars that are too old and do not meet emission standards. Selling them cheaply and keeping them in stock means a heavy loss,” said Mr. Tien.

For buyers, the biggest worry is “buying today, afraid of being banned tomorrow”. Mr. Hua Van Minh, a customer from Dong Thap who came to Ho Chi Minh City to buy a used car, shared: “I want to buy a used car for my child to go to work, but I heard that there will be a ban on used gasoline cars in the city center, and then stricter emission control, so I chose to buy a cheap one. Spending hundreds of millions and not being able to drive it in a few years is a waste”.

Many other customers chose to "sit still" and wait for specific instructions. That made the used car market in Ho Chi Minh City the quietest in the past 5 years. According to statistics from some trading floors, the number of transactions in September 2025 decreased by about 20-25% compared to the same period last year.

However, on the positive side, experts say this is an inevitable self-cleansing phase. Low-end cars with high fuel consumption and high emissions will gradually be eliminated from the market. Meanwhile, fuel-efficient cars, hybrid cars or electric cars will be given priority.

Mr. Hua Van Minh is hesitant to choose used cars with low prices, while still ensuring emission inspection regulations.

Mr. Dao Kim Quang said: “Old cars can still survive if they are well maintained, have genuine spare parts replaced, and have a standard exhaust treatment system. The owner is willing to invest, the garage does the work carefully, and the vehicle is still registered normally.”

Many garages in Ho Chi Minh City have started investing in emission measuring equipment, upgrading exhaust filters, and improving fuel combustion systems. The cost for this can range from 10 to 30 million VND, but in return, the vehicle meets standards and is allowed to circulate in the LEZ.

The market is moving towards "greening"

If the LEZ roadmap and emission standards are implemented synchronously, Ho Chi Minh City will form a more environmentally friendly and transparent used car market. When the central area is established as a low emission zone, the value of qualified cars will increase. People will also gradually get used to periodic emission checks, similar to technical safety checks. This is an inevitable step for the City to move towards a sustainable transportation model.

In addition, policies to encourage people to trade in old cars for electric or hybrid cars are being studied. Some electric car importers said that the number of customers asking to buy has increased slightly in the third quarter of 2025, showing that the shift is starting.

A used car lot on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City.

Despite many challenges, tightening emissions, combining LEZs and encouraging green vehicles are considered important stepping stones for Ho Chi Minh City to move closer to the goal of reducing net emissions to 0 (Net Zero) by 2050.

The new emission roadmap and the emergence of the low emission zone (LEZ) in Ho Chi Minh City are not only technical changes, but also a turning point in consumer awareness and behavior. In the short term, the used car market may be quiet, and prices of low-end cars continue to fall. But in the long term, this is an opportunity to form a healthy market where quality, emission standards and environmental factors become the measure of a car's real value.

This change is not without initial disruptions, but if implemented with a roadmap, transparency and reasonable support, Ho Chi Minh City can completely become a pioneering green urban model in controlling traffic emissions.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/o-to-xe-may/thi-truong-o-to-cu-am-dam-truoc-cac-thong-tin-ve-kiem-soat-khi-thai-va-han-che-xe-xang-20251012122730961.htm