What does parallel imported cars mean?
3 Answers
Parallel imported cars, fully known as parallel trade imported vehicles, refer to cars purchased by traders from overseas markets without authorization from brand manufacturers and introduced into the Chinese market for sale. Depending on the import location, they can be categorized into "U.S. specification vehicles," etc. Below are the precautions for purchasing parallel imported cars: 1. Purchase requires relevant documents: Certificate of Imported Goods, Vehicle Inspection Sheet (Commodity Inspection), Vehicle Conformity Certificate, Vehicle Purchase Invoice, and Imported Vehicle Electronic Information. 2. Dealers must conduct purchases and sales in accordance with the law: Comply with legal regulations and inform consumers of precautions.
Parallel imported cars are quite interesting. A friend of mine just bought a Canadian-spec Land Rover last month. Simply put, it means bypassing domestic general agents and directly purchasing new cars from overseas markets to ship back to China. The advantages are quite obvious - you can get special edition models not available in domestic 4S stores, with prices generally 10%-20% cheaper. For example, Middle East-spec Land Cruisers come with refrigerators, and North American-spec Mustangs have track packages - these are things you can't get through regular channels. However, you need to be cautious. Customs clearance requires 3C certification, and vehicle registration needs environmental disclosure, which tests the importer's capabilities. The key is that after-sales service becomes your own responsibility, as factory warranties don't apply. Fortunately, my friend's dealer signed a two-year self-operated warranty contract, which adds an extra layer of protection.
When it comes to parallel-import vehicles, the key is understanding the rules of this gray-area game. Essentially, traders exploit tariff loopholes by shipping foreign-made new cars as 'personal items' for domestic resale. The smartest tactic I've seen targets countries with inventory gluts—like Europe's unsold diesel X5s, which become hot commodities when flipped in China. Aren't buyers just chasing the price gap? The savings could cover five years of fuel. But the downsides stack up: Chinese-language software flashes, mismatched toolkits, and nightmare accident repairs. Last year fixing my cousin's US-spec Cayenne, we waited three months for a bumper part shipped from Germany. Always vet the importer's credit files—if some fly-by-night operation vanishes, you'll have nowhere to complain.
