Surging demand driving China's used-car exports

China is revving up the used-car export market, which saw over 400,000 units being shipped to more than 160 countries and regions in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Europe last year, becoming a new engine for automotive consumption and industrial upgrading.

Speaking on Aug 22 at the Used-Car Export Ecosystem Summit 2025 in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, China Automobile Dealers Association Vice-President Luo Lei affirmed that China is entering a golden era for used-car exports, driven by both policy support and surging demand.

With motor vehicle ownership exceeding 400 million units in the country, a mature supply-chain system and a portfolio of highly cost-effective models, China has a solid foundation, he said.

However, to overcome overseas market barriers, collaborative teamwork — with government guidance, pioneering enterprises and association empowerment — is imperative to build a standardized, globally oriented service system and a more competitive worldwide used-car circulation network, Luo said.

Industry experts said that thanks to the pilot program launched in 2019, China's used-car export market has already achieved numerous breakthroughs, but still needs the dedication and synergy of every industry stakeholder to play their part in taking it to the next level.

As a co-organizer of the summit and a key participant in China's used-car export sector, CAR Inc sent its CEO Gao Dewu to share the company's export achievements: "Since our launch last year, we have leveraged 29 domestic used-car central warehouses and five pre-port warehouses to establish six overseas direct-sales offices."

"Our real-time inventory of 4,000 vehicles now reaches more than 30 countries across the Middle East, Central Asia, North and West Africa, and Latin America," Gao said.

"Through our export practice, we have come to see that reliable vehicle sources are the cornerstone of any ecosystem while transparent information is the bridge of trust," Gao added, stressing that "China's global competitiveness must shift from 'price advantage' to 'brand trust'."

To this end, he said, CAR Inc has built an end-to-end capability covering high-standard pre-sale refurbishment, global logistics and localized after-sales support — from inspection, maintenance and cross-border transport to overseas warranties — creating an efficient and reliable cross-border service system that helps its partners enhance their global competitiveness.

Li Jia, vice-president of CAR Inc, said its three strategic pathways are vital — going global with a direct-sales network in six key countries to cover over 30 neighboring markets; resource integration with domestic institutional suppliers to share overseas opportunities; and promoting the transition of non-standard used cars to standardized products to strengthen market trust.

A core outcome of the summit was the official launch of the "Institutional Vehicle Source Export Task Force" — a member organization under the CADA Used-Car Export Sub-Committee.

Jointly led by CADA and CAR Inc, the founding members comprise 23 original equipment manufacturers, seven financial leasing companies, five rental and mobility firms and three dealers — covering the entire value chain from vehicle supply and financing to circulation services.

With extensive experience gained through the opening-up of many industries, China's ability to organize industrial collaboration and successful supply chain flows will play a key role in the future of the nation's used-car export sector.

Speaking on behalf of the core initiator, Li noted: "Our goal is to weave dispersed institutional vehicle sources, technologies and channel resources into a single network, shifting the country's used-car exports from 'solo battles' to 'joint voyages' and jointly building an overseas reputation that makes China the preferred source for bulk procurement."

"Only by incorporating every link — production, usage, circulation and export — can China's used cars travel far and stand firm in global markets," emphasized Gao, adding that "CAR Inc is committed, alongside industry peers, to rooting ourselves in real market demand and growing toward our shared aspirations."

Li stressed that for the export task force, four strategic areas have been identified.

"First, building vehicle-source standard to promote 'quality at value, and quality going-global', and second, establishing product standards to offer convenient transactions based on bulk supplies that are 'same model, same first-registration year, same condition grade, and same mileage band'," he said.

"Third, boosting transparency, and last, joint construction of a comprehensive overseas service system to ensure long-term sustainable export operations," Li added.

Li noted that CAR Inc will continue to leverage its core advantages in vehicle sources, technology and services, collaborating with partners across the value chain and jointly establishing a "high-quality and trustworthy" brand image for Chinese used cars worldwide.

hanjingyan@chinadaily.com.cn