That is, vehicles imported to China by importers other than the original general agent are usually sold in the port automobile city or comprehensive automobile trade shops around the country.
Parallel imported cars can be divided into three categories according to their identities: modified cars, small-batch cars and narrow-sense parallel imported cars.
Next, we will explain one by one:
1, modified car
Modified cars are the continuation of the concept of "big trade cars" and the mainstream of parallel imported cars at present.
Ok, why "modify"?
Because the "Measures for the Administration of Automobile Brand Sales" promulgated in 2005 stipulates that only the general agent authorized by the manufacturer is qualified to sell the imported cars of this brand in China. This "manufacturer" can be the original factory or a refit factory.
Take Toyota as an example, only the general agent "Toyota China" can obtain the original authorization of Toyota. What about other importers?
The solution is to set up a refitting factory overseas and authorize it to sell the refitted Toyota cars "produced" by this refitting factory in China.
These "modified cars" are usually without any substantial modification, such as the following Middle East version of Land Cruiser 4000GXR:
Although it has not been modified, its identity has changed:
1, the manufacturing country is no longer Japan, but the Middle East or North America;
2. The manufacturer is no longer Toyota, but various modification factories such as desert pioneer and hunter Braun;
3. The product names are no longer Chinese names such as Prado, Land Cruiser, Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne, but various names such as Overbearing, Land Cruiser, Debao Q7 and Dianakon Cayenne.
At present, most parallel imported cars are "modified cars" and cannot enjoy the original three guarantees, because the manufacturers are no longer the original ones. But you can buy three packs, and the insurance company will provide three packs.
2. Small batch
Small batch refers to "special purpose imported cars exempted from compulsory product certification".
The advantage of small batch is that 3C certificate is not needed, which saves the authentication cost. The disadvantage is that each batch must not exceed 5 sets, so it is impossible to supply.
Not all cars can apply for small quantities. Only cars that are not available through official channels (that is, neither made in China nor imported) can apply.
Moreover, the purpose of import is self-use, not sales, and it can only be transferred after one year of registration.
But in fact, often after customs clearance, it will be sold in various ways.
Alfa Romeo 4C
The above restrictions determine that small quantities are only suitable for niche unpopular models, or for testing the water in the market.
For example, Chevrolet Camaro first tested the water in small batches, and then introduced it in large quantities as a modified car.
Comalo's parallel import
However, since 20 17, bicycle certification has been increased in small batches, and the import cost has increased.
3. Narrow sense parallel imported cars
Strictly speaking, modified cars and small batches are not really parallel imported cars.
Only when the brands are the same can there be "parallelism". Modified cars, the brand is not the original factory, not "parallel sales."
Small batch, although the original brand, can not be directly sold, nor can it be regarded as "parallel sales".
Therefore, these two categories can only be regarded as "generalized parallel imports".
The real parallel imported cars began with the rise of the free trade zone in recent years.
Narrow sense parallel imported cars are imported through automatic import license, and the main differences with modified cars are as follows:
1, the brand is the original factory, not a refit factory;
2. 3C certification is not required, as long as the original China standard or domestic car has been certified;
3. The importer has to bear the recall and three guarantees, but there is no such requirement for the modified car.
Automatic import license for parallel import
Sounds good, so why is it difficult for narrow parallel imported cars to compete with modified cars?
The main reason is that the development time is still short, the approval process is complicated, and the customs clearance time is too long, which indirectly pushes up the import cost and makes many importers flinch.
In addition, the major brands imported in parallel, such as Toyota, have relatively reliable product quality, and consumers are not particularly concerned about the three guarantees. /
But in the future, with the optimization of the process, narrow parallel import should gradually become the mainstream.