Will China Change Everything? - China is tearing up modern motor manufacture but is yet to make more than a ripple in the classic car world. That could be about to change dramatically

China now dominates the automotive world in a way even Detroit in its heyday would have struggled to comprehend.Helped by Government incentives, the new car world is dominated by China's industries: whether full cars that undercut Western models by huge amounts, ownership of storied European brands such as Lotus and Volvo, or ownership and access to the vast majority of raw materials that go into EV cars, its influence is far-reaching and deep. However, this automotive enlightenment hasn't manifested itself in the classic world in any meaningful way - until now.

- By Nathan Chadwick - Photo Sanhe Classic Car Museum

China now dominates the automotive world in a way even Detroit in its heyday would have struggled to comprehend.

Helped by Government incentives, the new car world is dominated by China's industries: whether full cars that undercut Western models by huge amounts, ownership of storied European brands such as Lotus and Volvo, or ownership and access to the vast majority of raw materials that go into EV cars, its influence is far-reaching and deep.

However, this automotive enlightenment hasn't manifested itself in the classic world in any meaningful way - until now.

Representatives from European body FIVA (Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens, fiva.org) met with the Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce, Shen Qiuping, in December 2023 to discuss the future of the classic car movement, and in April FIVA President Tiddo Bresters was invited to the China International Classic Car Industry Outlook Conference held in Haikou, Hainan, an island province in the southernmost region of China. Joining him was Sheng Qiuping, while delegates included Xu Xingfeng, Director of the Consumer Promotion Department of the Ministry of Commerce, and Gui'an Zong, President of the Classic Vehicle Union of China (CUVC).

The conference aimed to define what a classic car was, ponder political reform and foster international cooperation. Bresters said in the aftermath: 'While the Chinese authorities are taking a suitably cautious approach to legislative changes not least because of environmental concerns - there is definitely a sea-change in attitudes towards historic vehicles.

Museum pieces? China is likely to allow on-road usage only to cars not considered a threat to its motor manufacturing interest. A threshold of 50 years old is probable.

This change has been slow and measured. After all, it is only in the past few years that China has opened up to any classic cars at all.