The China Urban Public Transport Association Network Car Club has declared that Beijing has officially banned internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) from ride‑hailing platforms from July 20.
As a result, not only vehicles that fall short of the National VI emission standard but also those that comply with it are now prohibited from platform access. Only new energy vehicles (NEVs) bearing green license plates will be permitted to operate in the city’s ride-hailing sector.
According to reports, some drivers in Beijing who registered gasoline-powered vehicles on ride-hailing platforms received notifications stating that the cars did not meet the eligibility criteria and must be replaced with NEVs.
The phase-out of ICEVs from the ride-hailing industry has long been anticipated, reflecting China’s sustained efforts to promote electric vehicles and its growing preference for EVs within the sector.
According to China Automotive News, Shenzhen, now known as China’s NEV hub, phased out gasoline-powered cars from ride-hailing platforms as early as 2020. Several other cities, including Guangzhou and Dongguan, have also prohibited fuel vehicles from joining these platforms. In Xi’an, authorities began fully retiring ICEVs from ride‑hailing services in June 2025, three years ahead of its original 2028 deadline. With more cities introducing similar bans, China’s ride‑hailing industry is accelerating rapidly into the electric era.
Beijing’s full ban on internal combustion engine vehicles underscores the government’s strong commitment to cutting transportation-related carbon emissions. The shift is backed by the fast-growing new energy vehicle market, which now accounts for half of all passenger car sales in China.
China’s passenger new energy vehicle (NEV) retail sales reached 1.111 million units in June, marking a 29.7% increase compared to the same month last year and an 8.2% rise from May, according to July 8 data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). Meanwhile, NEV retail penetration hit 53.3%, up 4.8% year-over-year and 0.4% higher than May’s figure.
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