The draft stipulates the roadmap for controlling motorbike emissions that is being proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment for comments, with the possibility of being applied from 2027 in major cities.
If approved, millions of motorbikes will have to meet new emission standards, or have their circulation restricted. In that context, the high-end scooter market, which is famous for its "fuel-consuming" speed, will face many difficulties.
According to the latest price list survey in June 2025, Piaggio scooter models are still priced high, many models range from 80 to more than 150 million VND.
Typically, the Liberty S 125 ABS I-GET model has a listed price of 57.9 million VND, while the Medley S 150 ABS line has a price of up to 96.8 million VND. Meanwhile, the Vespa Sprint 150 TFT and GTS 300 ABS versions even reached 110 and 158.6 million VND.
Piaggio currently ranks third in terms of motorbike market share in Vietnam, after Honda and Yamaha. However, this is one of the types of vehicles that use a lot of fuel.
For example, a 150cc i-Get or 300cc HPE engine typically consumes from 3 to more than 4 liters of gasoline per 100 km - a figure not small compared to popular vehicles. Although the company has equipped with technologies such as electronic fuel injection, two-channel ABS or Start & Stop system.
Not only Piaggio, Honda's large scooter line also contributes to increasing urban emission pressure. According to a survey of Honda SH125i car prices at HEAD dealers nationwide, they are stable at 74 to over 85 million VND depending on the version.
SH125i uses a eSP+ 125cc engine. The fuel consumption according to the company's announcement is still around 2.2 - 2.5 liters/100 km, but in reality it can be higher if running in the inner city or carrying two people.
According to the proposal of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, from 2027, motorbikes used for more than 5 years in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will have to have their emissions periodically inspected. Non-compliant vehicles may be eliminated.
With the number of scooters accounting for nearly 45% of the total number of motorbikes in circulation, this will be a big challenge for both people and manufacturers.
In addition, the trend of shifting to electric scooters is also gradually taking shape. Some domestic companies such as VinFast and Dat Bike have launched electric motorbike models targeting young users.
Experts say that, along with tightening emission standards, there should be technical support policies so that people can upgrade and maintain used cars at reasonable costs. At the same time, financial mechanisms such as exemption from inspection fees, support for replacing standard exhaust pipes or subsidies for buying new vehicles should also be considered to ensure fairness.
