China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) acknowledged on Wednesday that it’s going to improve regulatory steerage for used automobile exports, as a part of efforts to help the sector’s nationwide growth and keep orderly growth.
As reported by CCTV Information, at a daily press convention, MOFCOM spokesperson He Yadong acknowledged that the ministry will proceed to work with related departments following the February 2024 determination—collectively issued with 4 different businesses—to develop used automobile export operations nationwide. This marked the top of a pilot program launched in 2019.
He famous that the used automobile commerce is a typical worldwide follow, and that cars, as sturdy client items, play a vital position in each world and home markets. In keeping with official knowledge, China exported 275,000 used autos in 2023, with a complete export worth of roughly 6.88 billion USD (round 492.8 billion yuan). In 2024, China exported over 436,000 “used automobiles” abroad.
Nationwide requirements and technical necessities
Beneath the expanded export framework, autos should adjust to nationwide high quality requirements: WM/T 8-2022 for used passenger automobiles and WM/T 9-2022 for used business autos and trailers. Every automobile requires an inspection by an authorized third-party company, and exporters should submit the ensuing inspection studies.
Exporters should additionally adjust to import laws in vacation spot nations, together with the issuance of declarations of conformity the place required. Regulators are encouraging using China’s “Automotive Upkeep Digital Well being File System” to confirm automobile service histories.
These measures are supposed to standardise export practices and guarantee autos meet each home and worldwide technical expectations.
Context: transparency and market challenges
The brand new oversight measures come as regulators and business stakeholders study transparency challenges within the home used automobile market, notably the rising variety of “zero-kilometre used automobiles”—autos registered as offered however with little or no mileage, as we reported earlier in June.
This classification permits autos to be resold as used, typically at a reduction, whereas technically avoiding new automobile stock statistics. Analysts hyperlink this follow to persistent overcapacity and excessive stock ranges. As of April 2025, China’s nationwide passenger automobile stock stood at 3.5 million items, with some automakers working at lower than 50% manufacturing capability.
The difficulty has drawn consideration from each regulators and producers. In Could, MOFCOM held a gathering with automakers and used automobile platforms to debate enhancements in transaction oversight and potential frameworks to forestall knowledge distortion.
Some business observers have famous that increasing regulated used automobile exports might present an outlet for extra stock, although enforcement and compliance stay key components.
By requiring technical inspections and inspiring verification of service data, the export coverage can also contribute to broader efforts geared toward growing transparency and restoring belief in automobile resale practices.
