Fuel Consumption Label

1. Definition and Regulatory Requirements

The fuel consumption label, officially termed the "Automobile Energy Consumption Label", is a yellow or coloured sticker affixed to a prominent area of the vehicle (typically the front windscreen). Its primary purpose is to provide car buyers with a standardised, clear breakdown of a vehicle's fuel efficiency under standard test conditions, eliminating previous difficulties in comparing models when relying solely on manufacturer-claimed "theoretical figures".

Under regulations from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), all light-duty vehicles (including petrol, diesel, and new energy vehicles) with a maximum gross vehicle weight (GVW) not exceeding 3,500 kg sold in China must carry this label upon factory rollout.

2. Label Structure and Reading the Information

The label is generally divided into a header section, a specifications section, and an explanatory section, featuring key details such as:

• Vehicle Specifications: Manufacturer, vehicle model, engine code, fuel type, engine capacity/displacement, transmission type, and related details.

• Core Fuel Economy Data:

  • Urban Fuel Consumption: Simulates stop-and-go city traffic conditions, typically representing the highest fuel consumption figure.

  • Extra-Urban Fuel Consumption: Simulates open road and highway cruising conditions, typically representing the lowest fuel consumption figure.

  • Combined Fuel Consumption: A weighted average calculated from urban and extra-urban driving splits, highlighted in bold as the primary figure for cross-model comparisons.

• Supplementary Data: Covers estimated running/energy costs, CO2 emissions, compliance ratings against national fuel consumption limits, and a QR code for accessing the digital certification.

3. Testing Standards and Evolution

The fuel consumption figures shown on the label are not gathered from actual on-road driving, but from laboratory chassis dynamometer testing mandated by national standards. Vehicle homologation has now fully transitioned to the WLTC (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Cycle) standard, superseding the legacy NEDC cycle. The WLTC test comprises four driving phases—low, medium, high, and extra-high speed—offering conditions far closer to real-world driving and delivering significantly more representative data than NEDC.

4. Real-World Discrepancies and Practical Tips

Because laboratory testing cannot fully replicate real-world variables such as traffic conditions, weather, vehicle payload, and individual driving habits, the rated fuel consumption is usually notably lower than actual real-world consumption. Industry benchmarks indicate that combined lab figures are typically 20% to 25% lower than real-world fuel consumption, with an even wider variance in urban driving.

Practical Tips for Buyers:

• Treat the labelled figures as a benchmark for like-for-like comparison between vehicles in the same segment, rather than an exact measure of actual fuel spend.

• When shopping for a car, look closely at the "Urban" fuel consumption figure, as it reflects everyday city commuting conditions more accurately.

5. Future Outlook

Since the mandatory introduction of fuel consumption labelling in 2010, the MIIT and SAMR introduced stricter guidelines in 2024 requiring all models (including new energy vehicles) to update their labels under the latest GB 22757.1—2023 and GB 22757.2—2023 standards, while incorporating digitalised formats such as electronic labels. Moving forward, the labelling framework will continue to improve in accuracy and standardisation, providing consumers with greater transparency when making purchasing decisions.