Chile: Light-Duty Vehicles

Background
Emission Standards
In-use Vehicles

Background

The first emission standards for new light-duty and medium-duty vehicles applied from model year 1992 in the Santiago Metropolitan Region (RM) and from 1994 nationally. These early standards were based on US emission requirements.

Since model year 2005/2006, there are two alternative emission compliance options:

US-based emission standards, with EPA Tier 3 based standards effective from 2022, and
European-based emission standards, with Euro 6 based standards effective from 2022.

No on-board diagnostic (OBD) requirements are indicated in Chile’s emission standards.

Light-duty vehicles include passenger cars and light light-duty trucks (GVWR < 2700 kg). Medium-duty vehicles are heavy light-duty trucks (2700 ≤ GVWR < 3860 kg).

Emission Standards

Year 1992-2006

Early emission standards for passenger cars and light trucks, which were based on US 1984 regulations, are shown in Table 1 [2947][2948]. These standards first applied in the Santiago Metropolitan Region and in the continental parts of Region V and Region VI. The test cycle was the US FTP 75.

**Table 1**
Emission standards for light-duty vehicles (1992-2006), g/km
Category	Date	CO	HC	NOx	PM*
Light-Duty Vehicles GVWR < 2700 kg
Passenger Cars	1992.09 (RM, V & VI) 1994.09 (National)	2.11	0.25	0.62	0.125
Light-Duty Trucks	1992.09 (RM, V & VI)	6.2	0.50	1.43	0.16
Light-Duty Trucks	1998.09 (RM) 2006.05 (National)	6.2	0.50	0.75	0.16
Medium-Duty Vehicles 2700 ≤ GVWR < 3860 kg
Type 1, LVW < 1700 kg	1995.09 (RM, V & VI)	6.2	0.50	1.43	0.16
Type 1, LVW < 1700 kg	1998.09 (RM) 2006.05 (National)	6.2	0.50	0.75	0.16
Type 2, LVW ≥ 1700 kg	1995.09 (RM, V & VI)	6.2	0.50	1.43	0.31
Type 2, LVW ≥ 1700 kg	1998.09 (RM) 2006.05 (National)	6.2	0.50	1.10	0.08
* PM limits applicable to diesel vehicles only

Year 2005-2022

Emission standards in effect from 2005 to 2022.09 are summarized in Table 2.1 and Table 2.2 for diesel fueled vehicles and in Table 3.1 and Table 3.2 for gasoline, CNG and LPG fueled vehicles.

Standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles reflecting US Tier 1 and Euro 3 standards came into effect in 2005 for RM and 2006 nationally. For light-duty diesel fueled vehicles operating in RM, standards based on California Tier 1 and Euro 4 were adopted for 2006/2007 and were tightened to EPA Tier 2 Bin 5/Euro 5 levels in 2011. EPA Tier 2 Bin 8/Euro 4 based standards for light-duty vehicles with a spark ignition engine operating in RM applied in 2011. For medium-duty spark ignition and diesel fueled vehicles operating in RM, standards based on EPA Tier 1 Bin 8 and Euro 4 levels came into effect in 2011. For medium-duty diesel fueled vehicles, these were tightened to EPA Tier 2 Bin 5/Euro 5 in 2012.

The US based standards adopted prior to 2013 are numerically equal to the intermediate life (5 year/50,000 mile) EPA or California limits; presumably to match the 80,000 km durability of the earlier Euro standards. US based standards effective from 2013 are based on the 120,000 mile full useful life limits.

**Table 2.1**
Emission standards for diesel fueled light-duty vehicles, g/km
**Alternative 1:** US based standards
Category	Date	CO	HCHO*	NMHC†	NOx	PM	Durability	Reference
Light-Duty Vehicles GVWR < 2700 kg
Passenger Cars ≤ 12 passengers	2005.01 (RM) 2006.09 (National)	2.11		0.16^a	0.62	0.05	-	EPA Tier 1, Intermediate life
LDT Type 1, LVW ≤ 1700 kg		2.11		0.16	0.62	0.05
LDT Type 2, LVW > 1700 kg		2.74		0.20	0.61	0.05
Passenger Cars ≤ 12 passengers	2006.03 (RM)	2.11		0.16	0.25	0.05	-	California Tier 1, Intermediate life
LDT Type 1, LVW ≤ 1700 kg		2.11		0.16	0.25	0.05
LDT Type 2, LVW > 1700 kg		2.74		0.20	0.44	0.05
Passenger Cars ≤ 12 passengers LDT Type 1, LVW ≤ 1700 kg LDT Type 2, LVW > 1700 kg	2011.09 (RM)	2.11	9.32	0.047	0.031	0.0062	-	EPA Tier 2 Bin 5, Intermediate life
Passenger Cars ≤ 12 passengers LDT Type 1, LVW ≤ 1700 kg LDT Type 2, LVW > 1700 kg	2013.03 (National)	2.11	9.32	0.062	0.087	-	50,000 mi	EPA Tier 2 Bin 8, Intermediate life
	2013.03 (National)	2.61	11.19	0.078	0.124	0.012	120,000 mi	EPA Tier 2 Bin 8, Full useful life
Passenger Cars ≤ 12 passengers LDT Type 1, LVW ≤ 1700 kg LDT Type 2, LVW > 1700 kg	2013.09 (National)	2.11	9.32	0.047	0.031	-	50,000 mi	EPA Tier 2 Bin 5, Intermediate life
	2013.09 (National)	2.61	11.19	0.056	0.044	0.0062	120,000 mi	EPA Tier 2 Bin 5, Full useful life
Medium-Duty Vehicles 2700 ≤ GVWR < 3860 kg
Type 1, 1700 kg < ALVW ≤ 2610 kg	2005.01 (RM) 2006.09 (National)	2.74		0.20	0.61	0.06	-	EPA Tier 1, Intermediate life
Type 2, ALVW ≥ 2610 kg	2005.01 (RM) 2006.09 (National)	3.11		0.24	0.95	0.07	-	EPA Tier 1, Intermediate life
Type 1, 1700 kg < ALVW ≤ 2610 kg Type 2, ALVW ≥ 2610 kg	2011.04 (RM)	2.11	9.32	0.062	0.087	0.012	-	EPA Tier 2 Bin 8, Intermediate life
Type 1, 1700 kg < ALVW ≤ 2610 kg Type 2, ALVW ≥ 2610 kg	2012.09 (RM)	2.11	9.32	0.0047	0.031	0.0062	-	EPA Tier 2 Bin 5, Intermediate life
Type 1, 1700 kg < ALVW ≤ 2610 kg Type 2, ALVW ≥ 2610 kg	2013.03 (National)	2.11	9.32	0.062	0.087	-	50,000 mi	EPA Tier 2 Bin 8, Intermediate life
Type 1, 1700 kg < ALVW ≤ 2610 kg Type 2, ALVW ≥ 2610 kg	2013.03 (National)	2.61	11.19	0.078	0.124	0.012	120,000 mi	EPA Tier 2 Bin 8, Full useful life
Type 1, 1700 kg < ALVW ≤ 2610 kg Type 2, ALVW ≥ 2610 kg	2013.09 (National)	2.11	9.32	0.047	0.031	-	50,000 mi	EPA Tier 2 Bin 5, Intermediate life
Type 1, 1700 kg < ALVW ≤ 2610 kg Type 2, ALVW ≥ 2610 kg	2013.09 (National)	2.61	11.19	0.056	0.044	0.006	120,000 mi	EPA Tier 2 Bin 5, Full useful life
* mg/km † NMOG for 2011/2012 and later standards a - THC limit of 0.25 g/km is also applicable.

**Table 2.2**
Emission standards for diesel fueled light-duty vehicles, g/km
**Alternative 2:** EU based standards
Category	Date	CO	NOx+HC	NOx	PM	Reference
Light-Duty Vehicles GVWR < 2700 kg
Passenger Cars	2005.01 (RM) 2006.09 (National)	0.64	0.56	0.50	0.05	Euro 3
LDT Class 1, RM ≤ 1305 kg		0.64	0.56	0.50	0.05
LDT Class 2, 1305 kg < RM ≤1760 kg		0.80	0.72	0.65	0.07
LDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg		0.95	0.86	0.78	0.10
Passenger Cars	2006.03^a (RM) 2013.03 (National)	0.50	0.30	0.25	0.025	Euro 4
LDT Class 1, RM ≤ 1305 kg	2006.03^a (RM) 2013.03 (National)	0.50	0.30	0.25	0.025
LDT Class 2, 1305 kg < RM ≤1760 kg	2007.03 (RM) 2013.03 (National)	0.63	0.39	0.33	0.04
LDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg	2007.03 (RM) 2013.03 (National)	0.74	0.46	0.39	0.06
Passenger Cars	2011.09 (RM) 2013.09 (National)	0.500	0.230	0.180	0.005	Euro 5
LDT Class 1, RM ≤ 1305 kg	2011.09 (RM) 2013.09 (National)	0.500	0.230	0.180	0.005
LDT Class 2, 1305 kg < RM ≤1760 kg	2012.09 (RM) 2013.09 (National)	0.630	0.295	0.235	0.005
LDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg	2012.09 (RM) 2013.09 (National)	0.740	0.350	0.280	0.005
Medium-Duty Vehicles 2700 ≤ GVWR < 3860 kg
MDT Class 1, RM ≤1305	2005.01 (RM) 2006.09 (National)	0.64	0.56	0.50	0.05	Euro 3
MDT Class 2, 1305 < RM ≤ 1760 kg		0.80	0.72	0.65	0.07
MDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg		0.95	0.86	0.78	0.10
MDT Class 1, RM ≤1305	2011.04 (RM) 2013.03 (National)	0.50	0.30	0.25	0.025	Euro 4
MDT Class 2, 1305 < RM ≤ 1760 kg		0.63	0.39	0.33	0.04
MDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg		0.74	0.46	0.39	0.06
MDT Class 1, RM ≤1305	2012.09 (RM) 2013.09 (National)	0.50	0.230	0.180	0.005	Euro 5
MDT Class 2, 1305 < RM ≤ 1760 kg		0.63	0.295	0.235	0.005
MDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg		0.74	0.350	0.280	0.005
a - 2007.03 for passenger cars with GVWR > 2500 kg

**Table 3.1**
Emission Standards for Gasoline, CNG and LPG Fueled Light-Duty Vehicles, g/km
**Alternative 1:** US based standards
Category	Date	CO	HCHO*	HC	NMHC†	NOx	Durability	Reference
Light-Duty Vehicles GVWR < 2700 kg
Passenger Cars ≤ 12 passengers	2005.01 (RM) 2006.09 (National)	2.11		0.25	0.16	0.25	-	EPA Tier 1, Intermediate life
LDT Type 1, LVW ≤ 1700		2.11		0.25	0.16	0.25
LDT Type 2, LVW > 1700		2.74		0.25	0.20	0.44
Passenger Cars ≤ 12 passengers LDT Type 1, LVW ≤ 1700 LDT Type 2, LVW > 1700	2011.04 (RM)	2.11	9.32		0.062	0.087	-	EPA Tier 2 Bin 8, Intermediate life
Passenger Cars ≤ 12 passengers LDT Type 1, LVW ≤ 1700 LDT Type 2, LVW > 1700	2013.03 (National)	2.11	9.32		0.062	0.087	50,000 mi	EPA Tier 2 Bin 8, Intermediate life
	2013.03 (National)	2.61	11.19		0.078	0.124	120,000 mi	EPA Tier 2 Bin 8, Full useful life
Passenger Cars ≤ 12 passengers LDT Type 1, LVW ≤ 1700 LDT Type 2, LVW > 1700	2014.09 (National)	2.11	9.32		0.047	0.031	50,000 mi	EPA Tier 2 Bin 5, Intermediate life
	2014.09 (National)	2.61	11.19		0.056	0.044	120,000 mi	EPA Tier 2 Bin 5, Full useful life
Medium-Duty Vehicles 2700 ≤ GVWR < 3860 kg
Type 1, 1700 kg < ALVW ≤ 2610 kg	2005.01 (RM) 2006.09 (National)	2.70			0.20	0.44	-	EPA Tier 1, Intermediate life
Type 2, ALVW ≥ 2610 kg	2005.01 (RM) 2006.09 (National)	3.11			0.24	0.68	-	EPA Tier 1, Intermediate life
Type 1, 1700 kg < ALVW ≤ 2610 kg Type 2, ALVW ≥ 2610 kg	2011.04 (RM)	2.11	9.32		0.062	0.087	-	EPA Tier 2 Bin 8, Intermediate life
Type 1, 1700 kg < ALVW ≤ 2610 kg Type 2, ALVW ≥ 2610 kg	2013.03 (National)	2.11	9.32		0.062	0.087	50,000	EPA Tier 2 Bin 8, Intermediate life
Type 1, 1700 kg < ALVW ≤ 2610 kg Type 2, ALVW ≥ 2610 kg	2013.03 (National)	2.61	11.19		0.078	0.124	120,000 mi	EPA Tier 2 Bin 8, Full useful life
Type 1, 1700 kg < ALVW ≤ 2610 kg Type 2, ALVW ≥ 2610 kg	2014.09 (National)	2.11	9.32		0.047	0.031	50,000	EPA Tier 2 Bin 5, Intermediate life
Type 1, 1700 kg < ALVW ≤ 2610 kg Type 2, ALVW ≥ 2610 kg	2014.09 (National)	2.61	11.19		0.056	0.044	120,000 mi	EPA Tier 2 Bin 5, Full useful life
* mg/km † NMOG for 2011/2012 and later standards

**Table 3.2**
Emission standards for gasoline, CNG and LPG fueled light-duty vehicles, g/km
**Alternative 2:** EU based standards
Category	Date	CO	HC	NMHC	NOx	Reference
Light-Duty Vehicles GVWR < 2700 kg
Passenger Cars	2005.01 (RM) 2006.09 (National)	2.3	0.20		0.15	Euro 3
LDT Class 1, RM ≤ 1305 kg		2.3	0.20		0.15
LDT Class 2, 1305 < RM ≤ 1760 kg		4.17	0.25		0.18
LDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg		5.22	0.29		0.21
Passenger Cars	2011.04 (RM) 2013.03 (National)	1.00	0.10		0.08	Euro 4
LDT Class 1, RM ≤ 1305 kg		1.00	0.10		0.08
LDT Class 2, 1305 < RM ≤ 1760 kg		1.81	0.13		0.10
LDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg		2.27	0.16		0.11
Passenger Cars	2014.09 (National)	1.000	0.100	0.068	0.060	Euro 5
LDT Class 1, RM ≤ 1305 kg		1.000	0.100	0.068	0.060
LDT Class 2, 1305 < RM ≤ 1760 kg		1.810	0.130	0.090	0.075
LDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg		2.270	0.160	0.108	0.082
Medium-Duty Vehicles 2700 ≤ GVWR < 3860 kg
MDT Class 1, RM ≤ 1305 kg	2005.01 (RM) 2006.09 (National)	2.3	0.20		0.15	Euro 3
MDT Class 2, 1305 kg < RM ≤ 1760 kg		4.17	0.25		0.18
MDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg		5.22	0.29		0.21
MDT Class 1, RM ≤ 1305 kg	2011.04 (RM) 2013.03 (National)	1.00	0.10		0.08	Euro 4
MDT Class 2, 1305 kg < RM ≤ 1760 kg		1.81	0.13		0.10
MDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg		2.27	0.16		0.11
MDT Class 1, RM ≤ 1305 kg	2014.09 (National)	1.000	0.100	0.068	0.060	Euro 5
MDT Class 2, 1305 kg < RM ≤ 1760 kg		1.810	0.130	0.090	0.075
MDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg		2.270	0.160	0.108	0.082

New gasoline fueled vehicles must also meet an evaporative emission limit of 2 g/test (SHED).

Year 2022 and Later

Emission standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles in effect starting 2022.09 are based on Euro 6 and US EPA Tier 3 limits [5807][5808]. Table 4.1 summarizes emission limits based on US standards while Table 4.2 and Table 4.3 summarize the limits for diesel and spark-ignition engine equipped vehicles based on Euro 6 standards. From 2022.09, Euro 6b/EPA Tier 3 bin 125 limits apply while from 2025.09, Euro 6c/EPA Tier 3 bin 70 limits are introduced. The implementation of the Euro 6b/EPA Tier 3 bin 125 limits was confirmed 2022.10 [5809].

**Table 4.1**
Emission standards for light-duty vehicles (GVWR < 3860 kg) with spark ignition and diesel engines
**Alternative 1:** US based standards
Bin	Date	CO	HCHO	NMHC+NOx	PM	Durability	Reference
Bin	Date	g/mi	mg/mi	mg/mi	mg/mi	mi	Reference
125	2022.09	2.1	4	125	3	150,000	US EPA Tier 3
70	2025.09	1.7	4	70	3	150,000	US EPA Tier 3

**Table 4.2**
Emission standards for diesel fueled light-duty vehicles
**Alternative 2:** EU based standards
Category	Date	CO	NOx+HC	NOx	PM	PN	Reference
Category	Date	g/km				#/km	Reference
Light-Duty Vehicles GVWR < 2700 kg
Passenger Cars	2022.09 Euro 6b^a 2025.09 Euro 6c^b (National)	0.500	0.170	0.080	0.0045	6.0×10¹¹	Euro 6
LDT Class 1, RM ≤ 1305 kg		0.500	0.170	0.080	0.0045	6.0×10¹¹
LDT Class 2, 1305 kg < RM ≤1760 kg		0.630	0.195	0.105	0.0045	6.0×10¹¹
LDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg		0.740	0.215	0.125	0.0045	6.0×10¹¹
Medium-Duty Vehicles 2700 ≤ GVWR < 3860 kg
MDT Class 1, RM ≤1305	2022.09 Euro 6b^a 2025.09 Euro 6c^b (National)	0.500	0.170	0.080	0.0045	6.0×10¹¹	Euro 6
MDT Class 2, 1305 < RM ≤ 1760 kg		0.630	0.195	0.105	0.0045	6.0×10¹¹
MDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg		0.740	0.215	0.125	0.0045	6.0×10¹¹
^a Euro 6b limits over the NEDC cycle ^b Euro 6c limits over the WLPT cycle

**Table 4.3**
Emission standards for gasoline, CNG and LPG fueled light-duty vehicles
**Alternative 2:** EU based standards
Category	Date	CO	HC	NMHC	NOx	PM^d	PN^d	Reference
Category	Date	g/km					#/km	Reference
Light-Duty Vehicles GVWR < 2700 kg
Passenger Cars	2022.09 Euro 6b^a 2025.09 Euro 6c^b (National)	1.000	0.100	0.068	0.060	0.0045	6.0×10^{11 c}	Euro 6
LDT Class 1, RM ≤ 1305 kg		1.000	0.100	0.068	0.060	0.0045	6.0×10^{11 c}
LDT Class 2, 1305 kg < RM ≤1760 kg		1.810	0.130	0.090	0.075	0.0045	6.0×10^{11 c}
LDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg		2.270	0.160	0.108	0.082	0.0045	6.0×10^{11 c}
Medium-Duty Vehicles 2700 ≤ GVWR < 3860 kg
MDT Class 1, RM ≤1305	2022.09 Euro 6b^a 2025.09 Euro 6c^b (National)	1.000	0.100	0.068	0.060	0.0045	6.0×10^{11 c}	Euro 6
MDT Class 2, 1305 < RM ≤ 1760 kg		1.810	0.130	0.090	0.075	0.0045	6.0×10^{11 c}
MDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg		2.270	0.160	0.108	0.082	0.0045	6.0×10^{11 c}
^a Euro 6b limits over the NEDC cycle ^b Euro 6c limits over the WLPT cycle ^c 6.0×10¹² for Euro 6b vehicles ^d PM and PN limits apply only to vehicles equipped with DI engines

For the Euro 6c/EPA Tier 3 bin 70 limits to take effect, fuels with a maximum sulfur content of 10 ppm must be available nationally for at least 6 months prior to the implementation date, i.e., after 2025.03. This was confirmed 2024.07 with March 30, 2025 set as the date for 10 ppm sulfur gasoline and diesel fuel required to be available nationally [6235].

In-use Vehicles

Early Inspection and Maintenance tests were carried out with a two speed idle test. In-use light-duty, medium-duty spark-ignition and heavy-duty gasoline fueled vehicles had to meet I/M maximum limits of 0.5% CO and 100 ppm HC. Light-duty SI vehicles must also meet a minimum limit of 6% CO₂ + CO. Light-duty diesels must show no visible smoke. In 2006, an Acceleration Simulation Mode (ASM) test was introduced for SI vehicles in the RM. Medium-duty and heavy-duty diesels must pass filter smoke number and opacity tests with the engine under load and during a snap-acceleration test. An in-use opacity limit for vehicles equipped with particulate filters is set at 0.24 1/m maximum [2949]. Urban buses have also the following in-use emission limits [2950]:

Smoke opacity < 4%, k = 1.0 1/m for diesel engines
CO < 0.5%, THC < 100 ppm for gaseous fuel and gasoline engines