What Are Parallel Imports?
3 Answers
Parallel imported vehicles refer to cars imported directly from the product's country of origin by importers other than the domestic general distributor. In contrast, there are regular imported vehicles. Compared to regular imported vehicles, parallel imports have the following differences: 1. Parallel imported vehicles are cheaper. Since they bypass the general agent, eliminating middlemen, their prices are significantly lower—typically by about 10% to 20%. 2. Parallel imports offer a wider selection of models. They include models unavailable through domestic production or regular imports. Depending on the import region, they are categorized as "U.S. specification," "European specification," etc., and are all originally manufactured. 3. In terms of after-sales service and vehicle maintenance, regular imported vehicles are better than parallel imports. Regular imports come with a manufacturer's warranty from 4S stores, while parallel imports lack such coverage, requiring owners to purchase insurance independently.
Last time I bought a parallel-imported Range Rover, shipped directly from the UK. The whole process saved me over 200,000 RMB, significantly cheaper than official 4S stores, and the operation was simple—just choose a reliable intermediary to handle the import procedures. However, I encountered some issues: the vehicle specifications differed from the domestic version, such as the suspension tuning being too stiff, making the ride uncomfortable. I also had to handle the license plate registration and insurance myself, and ran into trouble during the emissions test, almost failing the annual inspection. Additionally, there was no original factory warranty, so maintenance had to be done at private repair shops, and parts were hard to come by. The upside was getting access to new models earlier and having more variety to choose from. Overall, it's suitable for friends who know a bit about cars—saving money is key, but you need to research local regulations and vehicle compatibility in advance to avoid spending more effort dealing with issues later.
As a budget-conscious car enthusiast, I often recommend parallel imports to save money. Simply put, it involves importing vehicles directly from abroad, bypassing the official markup. For example, a BMW 7 Series can be 15%-20% cheaper, mainly due to reasonable tax avoidance and simplified procurement channels. However, don't just focus on the price—there are significant hidden risks: no factory warranty means you'll have to pay out of pocket for any issues, and you must ensure the vehicle meets China's emission and safety standards, or it won't be road-legal. My advice is to choose a reputable importer and verify that the VIN and import documents are complete. In daily driving, parallel imports tend to have more minor issues, such as incompatible navigation systems and more complicated part replacements. Consider your needs carefully—if you're after high cost-performance and know cars well, this can be a good option, but beginners should steer clear to avoid deep pitfalls.
