What Does Parallel Import Car Mean?
2 Answers
Parallel import cars, fully known as parallel trade import cars, abbreviated as parallel trade cars, refer to vehicles purchased by traders from overseas markets and introduced into the Chinese market for sale without authorization from the brand manufacturers. Below are the specific advantages of parallel import cars: 1. Price Advantage: Parallel import cars eliminate many intermediate links. Additionally, the pricing of parallel import cars by dealers is not restricted by manufacturers, offering more flexibility, which results in significant price discounts. Typically, parallel import cars are 10%~20% cheaper than their China-specific counterparts. 2. Model and Delivery Time Advantage: After new cars are launched overseas, they may not be immediately available in China due to strategic planning by some car manufacturers or domestic certification processes. However, as parallel import cars, they can be freely purchased overseas and then shipped to China for sale, significantly reducing the waiting time for new models. 3. Richer Model Configurations: They allow the purchase of overseas models not available in China. Generally, to align with the market positioning strategy in China, car manufacturers make certain adjustments and modifications when importing overseas models into the country.
Back when I worked with cars in Tianjin Port, I often had to explain this to people. Parallel imported vehicles are new cars that dealers source directly from overseas markets, bypassing the domestic brand 4S store system. Examples include the North American version Prado or the Middle East version Patrol, which can be about 15% cheaper than their China-spec counterparts. However, it's important to note that these vehicles are manufactured according to local standards. To be road-legal in China, modifications like turn signals and instrument clusters are required, and import duties must be paid. With the implementation of the China VI emission standards, many models can no longer be imported. It's best to check whether the vehicle can pass the environmental disclosure process before purchasing.
