Are all car-selling places 4S stores?
2 Answers
Selling cars is not necessarily limited to 4S stores. Other places to buy cars: Car direct-sales stores in auto trade cities. Many cities have a place called Auto City, which is essentially an auto trade city. The vehicles in car direct-sales stores come from 4S stores, so car direct-sales stores are also known as secondary dealers. Since direct-sales stores are not regulated by manufacturers, most of their vehicles come from 4S stores. 4S stores: Fully named Automobile Sales Service 4S stores (Automobile-Sales-Servicshop-4S), they are sales outlets that integrate car sales, maintenance, parts, and information services. They were introduced to China from Europe after 1998.
I've been in the auto industry for several years and know many people assume all new car sales happen at 4S stores, but that's not entirely accurate. 4S stores are brand-authorized dealerships, like Toyota or Ford's own shops, focusing on service and integration. However, there are other options in reality: used car markets such as Beijing Huaxiang Auto Market selling refurbished or direct second-hand models; independent dealers not brand-authorized but with diverse inventories; and now popular online platforms like Guazi Used Cars or certain brand direct sales points, such as Tesla's experience centers in shopping malls. My advice when buying a car is to choose based on budget and needs—opt for 4S stores if you prioritize after-sales service for new cars, or explore elsewhere for affordability or used options. There are plenty of choices. Visiting multiple places often brings pleasant surprises.
