Car warranty voided if the wrong type of fuel is used.

According to Decision 49/2011 of the Prime Minister, from the beginning of 2017, all types of automobiles manufactured, assembled, and imported into Vietnam must meet Euro 4 emission standards instead of the current Euro 2.

Both automotive companies and customers support the roadmap for adopting these emissions standards, but concerns remain regarding fuel efficiency.

Users also benefit.

Nearly two months after the Euro 4 standard was implemented, Mr. Tran Tan Trung, General Director of Lien A International Joint Stock Company, the distributor of Audi vehicles in Vietnam, stated that vehicle inspections were not difficult because the engines of vehicles worldwide have already met emission standards from Euro 4 and above. For example, the vehicles the company imports and distributes all meet Euro 5 and Euro 6 emission standards certified by Europe.

Gasoline that meets Euro 4 emission standards will have a lead content 26 times lower than Euro 2.

Mr. Nguyen Van Nghia, the owner of a car dealership in Ho Chi Minh City, believes that Vietnam's adoption of higher emission standards to protect a clean environment is necessary. Gasoline meeting Euro 4 emission standards will have a lead content 26 times lower than that of Euro 2.

"Furthermore, stricter emission standards require car manufacturers and assembly plants to invest more in environmentally friendly production technologies. This also creates a level playing field and healthy competition among automotive businesses, benefiting consumers," Mr. Nghia shared.

From the customer's perspective, Mr. Duc Minh (District 3, Ho Chi Minh City) stated that fuels meeting Euro 4 emission standards have been introduced to the market by businesses. Specifically, since January 2017, Petrolimex has officially launched RON 95 gasoline with emission level 3 and RON 95 gasoline with emission level 4. "Euro 4 standard cars emit cleaner emissions and run more smoothly, which benefits consumers as well," Mr. Minh said.

Still worried

Gasoline that meets Euro 4 emission standards is available on the market but is in short supply; substandard fuel is not being distributed uniformly across the country, posing difficulties for both businesses and consumers.

A representative from an automobile manufacturing and assembly company stated that Euro 4 emission standards simply mean cleaner engine exhaust emissions, therefore the fuel used must also meet higher and cleaner standards. However, fuel that meets Euro 4 emission standards is scarce, mainly concentrated in large cities. Furthermore, the difficulty in controlling gasoline quality means many Euro 4 cars will have to use Euro 2 fuel, or even lower.

Both automotive companies and customers support the roadmap for adopting these emissions standards, but concerns remain regarding fuel efficiency.

"That's why so many cars break down, and car manufacturers have to spend time repairing them and resolving customer complaints, easily damaging their reputation," a representative from the company shared. Meanwhile, some car companies have to issue warnings to customers that if they don't use the correct type of gasoline as instructed, their vehicles will be voided under warranty.

Specifically, for vehicles with high emission standards like Euro 4, or even Euro 5 and 6, manufacturers always recommend using gasoline with a RON 95 or higher. However, if customers use A92 gasoline, and the vehicle experiences fuel-related problems, the warranty will be voided, and the customer will bear the repair costs themselves.

Clarifying the fuel issue further, Mr. Le Van Tach, an automotive engineer working at Toyota Vietnam, said: "If lower-standard fuel is used, not in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, the engine's lifespan will certainly be affected, and users will suffer the consequences."

According to VNN