Why Is Car Modification in China Still in the Shadows?- 大数跨境

Why Is Car Modification in China Still in the Shadows?

拓策出海

2026-01-02

导读：Toctap: Solving NEV modding dilemma—standardize, pilot, upgrade, and drive compliant innovation. (98

Behind the 90% Substandard Parts Lie an Industry’s Awakening

Have you noticed more and more customized cars appearing on city streets—distinctive, expressive, and full of personality—yet still struggling with a strange legal limbo?

A meticulously modified vehicle might cruise freely through Beijing, only to be pulled over and fined when crossing provincial lines. A so-called “OEM-grade” aftermarket part is marketed as high-quality, yet 99% of such products on the market may be counterfeit…

This isn’t satire. It’s the harsh reality facing China’s automotive modification industry today.

After visiting multiple automakers and industry associations, one executive put it bluntly:

“By German standards, 90% of modified car parts in China wouldn’t pass.”

Behind this statement lies the growing pain of an industry that has long grown wild and unchecked—a lack of standards, transparency, regulation, and legal clarity.

Today, we’ll uncover the three core contradictions holding back China’s car modification sector—and explore how it can step out from the underground and into the sunlight.

The Root Problem: Why Are Chinese Aftermarket Parts So Often Low Quality?

On the surface, it’s driven by consumers’ desire for personalization. But dig deeper, and you’ll find the real culprit: the absence of unified industry standards.

Most modification parts on the market today come from small workshops—no certification systems, no quality traceability, and no accountability. One well-known tuning brand even publicly admitted: “99% of products claiming to be ours are fake.”

Without standards:

● Manufacturers don’t know where the line for “compliance” lies;

● Consumers can’t tell real from fake;

● Regulators lack a basis for enforcement.

As one insider put it: “We’re stuck between two choices—either we stick to ultra-high standards and kill the market, or we lower the bar temporarily to nurture businesses, then gradually raise the bar.”

The industry has chosen the latter path: growing first, regulating later—a strategy to transform chaos into order.

Three Layers of Crisis: The Deep Challenges Facing China’s Modification Industry

1. Lack of Standards: Who Defines “Legal Modification”?

China still lacks a national standard system covering all categories and processes of vehicle modification.

Take headlights, for example. Domestic regulations strictly limit brightness, color temperature, and installation position—any change could be deemed illegal. Yet in many overseas markets, reasonable lighting upgrades are widely accepted and even celebrated.

Without clear standards, companies are left to “cross the river by feeling the stones,” resulting in inconsistent quality and consumer confusion.

2. Fragmented Enforcement: “One City, One Rule” Leaves Modified Cars Trapped

Even more frustrating is the inconsistency in law enforcement across regions.

A technical upgrade permitted by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) might be labeled illegal at the local level.

A car legally registered in Shenzhen could be stopped by traffic police in Chengdu.

This “fragmented governance” stems from a lack of coordination among key departments—the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Transport, and MIIT.

Without inter-agency integration, there can be no unified compliance framework or nationwide enforcement.

3. Strong Overseas Demand, Weak Domestic Market: Blooming Outside, Struggling at Home

Ironically, while domestic modification remains tightly restricted, Chinese-made modification products are thriving overseas.

During a field visit to Dongguan, we met a company specializing in automotive lighting exports. Their products are popular across Europe, the Middle East, and North America—especially among off-road enthusiasts.

Yet due to strict domestic regulations, these same lights—perfectly legal abroad—cannot be used legally in China.

What does this tell us?

Chinese modification companies have the technology and market potential. What they lack is a supportive, compliant ecosystem at home.

Practical Solutions: How Can the Industry Move Forward?

Solving this crisis requires coordinated action. Here are three actionable recommendations:

✅ Establish a National Certification System for Modified Parts

Inspired by mature models like Germany’s TÜV or Japan’s JASMA, industry associations should lead efforts—alongside regulators—to develop national standards for safety, environmental impact, and performance, plus a certification process. This would create transparency: “standards to follow, certificates to verify.”

✅ Promote Cross-Departmental Governance

Accelerate collaboration among MIIT, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministry of Transport. Establish a national online registration platform for modified vehicles, enabling “one-time certification, nationwide recognition,” eliminating the absurdity of “legal in one city, illegal in another.”

✅ Adopt a “Phased Approach”: Pilot First, Then Scale

Launch legal modification pilot programs in cities with mature car culture—such as Shenzhen, Chengdu, or Hangzhou. Allow controlled upgrades in lighting, suspension, and exterior design within defined limits. Use real-world data to refine policies before national rollout.

Call to Action: Bring Car Culture from the Underground into the Light

Car modification in China should no longer be a risky hobby for a few—it should evolve into a mainstream, standardized, and sustainable part of automotive culture.

We call on:

● Industry organizations to accelerate standard-setting—estimated timeline: 3–5 years to build a full system;

● Modification enterprises to actively participate in standard development and improve product quality and brand trust;

● Consumers to sharpen their judgment, reject unbranded, uncertified “three-no” parts, and support compliant brands;

● Policymakers to offer more tolerance and guidance, allowing innovation to grow within a safe framework.

Most importantly—

We’ll spotlight how Chinese modification brands are breaking free from domestic saturation, going global, and showcasing the true strength of “Made in China” on the world stage.

🚗 Modification isn’t just about changing a car. It’s about changing a mindset.

When standards are set, regulations aligned, and culture matured—on that day, every legally modified car will drive proudly down the street, becoming part of China’s automotive civilization.

Are you ready for that future?

This article is adapted from the live broadcast transcript of "拓策出海(Toctap)". Every Thursday at 8:15 PM, focusing on practical insights into automotive globalization, follow our official WeChat channels for frontline industry intelligence.

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