These days more and more people want to purchase an EV from China. Chinese electric cars are definitely one of the best in the world and also they are one of the most affordable.
Both these factors play a crucial role when it comes to making the decision of investing in a Chinese EV. But the process can be somewhat complex.
That’s why in this article, we are going to break it down and simplify this for you.
1. Why Come to China Purchasing Electric Cars?
1.1 Competitive Price
One of the biggest reasons why anyone would buy an EV from China is the price. Price is definitely one of the most important factors that plays a huge role when it comes to making any purchase decision. Especially something expensive such as an EV.
Luckily, Chinese automakers are managing to deliver the best prices in the industry right now. Far cheaper than the western counterparts. With EV models starting as low as $4,000.
1.2 Excellent Quality
Another big pro to come to purchasing an electric car from China is the excellent quality of modern Chinese EVs.
The days when Chinese cars were considered to be unreliable are long gone. Nowadays Chinese automakers are employing some top automotive engineers that were working in the West for quite some time.
Currently, all of the Chinese companies focus on delivering quality. Since they know that this is the way they can be successful and sell a lot of EVs.
1.3 Diversified Choices and Style
And another really big pro of buying an EV from China is the choice. There is an abundance of choice that you have in the Chinese market right now.
There are many car makers that are offering a dozen different models in many different segments.
The choice is simply enormous and you can easily find a good car that will fit your requirements. You are not limited to only one or two options like in Europe or the US.
2. Where to Buy Electric Cars in China?
2.1 Go to Electric Cars Manufacturers
What many serious buyers do when they want to purchase a car from China is go directly to the manufacturer.
They book a flight to China and they go to the location where the manufacturer is located. And this is a good idea if you have the time to spend.
Seeing and experiencing the cars in person is always the best option. Images and videos do not show all of the important angles.
2.2 Go to Google Search
One of the easiest ways to buy an EV from China is to use Google and search for the manufacturer or the supplier of electric cars. So, let’s say that you found your dream EV, the first step will be to call the carmaker.
Most Chinese automakers have official websites that you can visit and look for the contact information. They also have customer support in English that will help you out with your request and will send you a quote on the model you are interested in buying.
2.3 Alibaba
Another good way is to visit Alibaba.com. Just look up for electric cars and then you will be able to contact a supplier to arrange the shipping details.
Or you can press the button Chat Now to inform yourself more on the car you want to buy and the procedures involved in this trade.
2.4 Be on Trade Show
Another good way to inform yourself about Chinese EVs and find your dream EV is to visit a trade show. Over the whole year, there are many trade shows in China, as well around the world where Chinese carmakers are involved.
Over there, you can experience these EVs in first person and make an inquiry if you are interested in buying one of the models.
3. Pre-Considerations When Importing Electric Cars
3.1 Understanding Import Regulations and Requirements
Before you decide to purchase a car from China, you need to understand the regulations and requirements.
Buying an EV from China is not something extremely simple as many people think. This is a process that can last for a period of a few months.
There is a lot of documentation that needs to be sorted out. As well as the shipping and paying the import fees in your country.
This is why we advise that you contact your local authorities to learn more about the import regulations and fees for that specific vehicle before you place an order on it.
3.2 Finding the Right Electric Vehicle in China
Second thing is finding the right electric vehicle for you. For this, you need to do a very extensive research to understand the market and the brands of EVs in China.
Understanding the brands and how they are rated is a good way to see which brand performs well and which brand you should avoid. Then you can move on and pick your favorite model that you want to buy.
3.3 Identifying Your Needs and Budgetary Constraints
Another consideration that you need to take are your needs. You need to be aware of your needs and then look for a vehicle that will suit you best.
Also, the budget plays a big role when it comes to buying a car. You need to calculate the purchasing price, as well as the import fees and shipping costs. Then determine what will be the end cost and if this cost will fit your budget.
3.4 Selecting the Ideal Electric Car Type and Features
You also need to find the right type of vehicle for your needs. Some people love SUVs, some love a normal sedan. While some love mini EVs.
So, finding the right type of vehicle plays a huge role when it comes to narrowing your list to only a few models and then making a decision based on this.
And for this the features play a huge role. Some EVs offer more features than others for that certain price. More features make the vehicle more attractive than other electric vehicles. Especially nowadays when everything revolves around technology.
3.5 Researching and Choosing Electric Car Models
When it comes to doing your research, you can rely on online sources and media. There are a bunch of reviews on Chinese EV cars. Especially on YouTube or other platforms.
There are also forums where these matters are heavily discussed since there are many people who are importing electric vehicles.
This way you can easily find the model you need and also figure out the importing fees to your location.
4. How to Buy Electric Cars From China? A Step-by-step Guide
4.1 Find a Chinese Electric Cars Supplier/Factory
The first step in the buying process involves finding a supplier or a factory. A supplier such as SpeedX.
SpeedX is a dealership and a wholesaler that is working with many Chinese EV makers and offers some of the best prices around. Which is the recommended route since dealing with a supplier is much more simple than the second option which is contacting the factory.
It is a much better way to find a highly experienced supplier rather than dealing with the factory which doesn’t necessarily have the know-how to deal with the documents.
4.2 Calculate Import Cost
One of the most important steps in the buying process is calculating the import fees. You just need to know how much import fees you will have to pay in your country.
Since these import fees can substantially increase the price of the vehicle. Some countries have lower fees while some countries have really high fees.
So, your task is to call your local customs office and make sure that you mention the make, model, year, trim level, and powertrain. In order to get the right cost.
4.3 Price Negotiation
Price negotiation is very important if you want to save some money. You can request the supplier for a quote on the specific model you want to buy.
Then they will send you their quote on the vehicle you want to order. And from here if you think that the price is too high, you can ask if they can adjust it a bit to suit your needs.
If the supplier can lower the price a bit, they will, since they do not want to lose a customer. Then you can shake hands on the price.
4.4 Visiting Showroom in China
Visiting a showroom in China is also a very good idea. There is nothing better than seeing the vehicle you intend to buy in person.
You need to see all of the angles and craftsmanship. This is why we heavily recommend doing so before you purchase a vehicle.
4.5 Registering Your Vehicle and Ensuring Compliance
Another thing that is very recommended to do is to make sure that the vehicle you want to import is importable and registerable in your country.
Since not all vehicles can be imported everywhere around the world. The vehicle needs to meet the local requirements and safety standards.
So, researching if you can register the car in your country is really important because if you can’t. All will be for nothing.
4.6 Purchasing
The next step once you shake hands on the price, will require signing a purchase agreement with the supplier. In this agreement all of the steps in the transaction will be clearly listed. This is essential in order for the process to be fully transparent.
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4.7 Payment Options
Payment options depend on the supplier. Some suppliers have fewer payment options, while some have more.
But if you are outside of China, payment options are limited since you are not a Chinese resident. You will not be able to finance the car or lease the vehicle like in your country of living.
So, you will either have to pay in cash or pay via a bank transfer. Still, contact the supplier for specific information.
4.8 Quality Inspection
Quality inspection is one of the steps that we strongly encourage because you need to be sure of what you are buying.
Cars tend to cost a lot and having good inspection performed is a crucial aspect. That’s why hiring a professional vehicle inspector or a mechanic is a really good idea.
This way you will be sure of what you are buying.
4.9 Shipment (Transit Times, Logistic Options, Container Sizes, Etc.)
Last step is the shipment of the vehicle to your destination. This is a process that can take a few months. Since shipping does not happen overnight. Cars are shipped via the sea in containers or standard.
There are a few options that you can take. These include a Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo), or a Full Container Load (FCL).
RoRo tends to be cheaper than FCL since cars are less tightly packed and overall, but overall FCL is the more recommended approach for shipping cars.
5. How to Find and Choose the Best Electric Cars Suppliers (Find Trusted EV Brands or Supplier Equipped With 4 Qualities )
5.1 Supporting Team for One-stop Solution
One of the biggest qualities that an EV supplier should have is to have a good team of capable people and a one-stop solution. The team is everything, if a supplier has very capable people working, they will deliver 100% of the time.
And the second thing is the one-stop solution. This means that the supplier will do all the necessary work for you. So you don’t wander around figuring out which documents you need to fill and where to do so.
5.2 Quality Standards
Quality standards also play a huge role when it comes to finding a good supplier. Since not all suppliers are good.
Some of them are doing a really good job and some of them don’t. That’s why you should find a reputable supplier, such as SpeedX, which will help you import your favorite EV in no time.
5.3 Competitive Prices
Another very important thing is the price. The price of a product makes or breaks a deal. If the price is not right, you will probably stay away from this vehicle.
That’s why you need to find a supplier that will offer the best prices in the industry. And a supplier that can manage to do so, often works with the manufacturers.
For example, SpeedX is working along with many different EV makers from China. This is how they manage to get the lowest prices around.
5.4 Communication and Responsiveness:
And the last quality is communication and responsiveness. A good supplier listens to the will of its clients and always manages to help them out in order to deliver the best result for their hard earned money!
6. Concerns When Importing Electric Cars From China(Considerations You Should Remember Before Importing Electric Cars)
6.1 Quality
Quality inspection before shipping is one of the most crucial procedures. This is why we recommend that every buyer should hire a professional vehicle inspector or a mechanic to check the car out.
You just need to be sure in what you are buying and whether or not this vehicle meets the quality control. This way you can sleep well and not worry about anything until the vehicle reaches your destination.
6.2 Shipment and Delivery Time
You also need to talk with the supplier or manufacturer about the shipping procedures and the time the car will take until it reaches your destination.
You need to arrange what type of container you want to ship your car in. And this can vary a lot since there is a difference between RoRo and FCL.
RoRo is a shipping method where the car is rolled on and loaded on the ship, while FCL is a shipping method that is more expensive and involves loading the car into a special container.
6.3 After Sale Service
After sale service is another really important thing you want to have. Make sure that the supplier offers after sale service.
For example, you need customer support or a user manual. So, having this is very important because if you don’t have to use your EV can be very frustrating.
6. 4 Legal and Regulatory Obligations
Another hugely important factor that you need to take into consideration are the legal and regulatory obligations that you need to do both inside China and in your country.
For example, in China, the supplier will deal much with the legal aspect of the deal. But once the car reaches your country, you also need to fill up the customs forms and have the proper import permits.
As well as vehicle compliance certificates that guarantee that this vehicle can be registered and safely driven on the roads.
7. Understanding Electric Cars Import Duties, Taxes, and Fees
7.1 Import Duties
Once the car reaches your destination, the customs office will determine your import duties that you need to make in order to release the car. Without the vehicle passing the customs, it will never be able to be road legal in your country. So, these import duties are very important.
These costs can vary depending on the make and model, year, powertrain, and trim options. It can add up significantly on top of the purchase cost of the vehicle.
7.2 Value Added Tax (VAT) or Goods and Services Tax (GST)
In addition to the import duties there is also VAT and GST. VAT is the value added tax. This tax can be up to 20% on top of the cost of the vehicle. Which is quite a lot. GST is the same as VAT but for India.
7.3 Other Fees and Charges
And depending on your country of residence there can be different taxes that have to be paid in order for a product to be imported. That’s why we strongly advise that you call your local customs office and inform yourself properly on these taxes.
8. Exporting and Shipping the Electric Vehicle
8.1 Container Shipping in Full Container Load (FCL):
One of the best options that you can use for shipping is FCL. Or full container load. This is a shipping method where the vehicles are shipped in containers.
Vehicles are loaded, strapped out and protected with protection in case there is a contact with the wall of the container.
Pros of this method is the safety from the elements during shipping. But the con is the cost. Since this method can cost a bit more compared to RoRo that we will cover next.
8.2 Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo):
Another good method of shipping cars is RoRo. RoRo stands for roll-on/roll-off. This is a method where vehicles are parked on a special ship that is intended for shipping cars.
This means that there are no containers but cars are parked like in a parking lot and strapped in order not to move around.
This method is cheaper compared to FCL. But the cars are exposed to the elements. Which can be bad, especially for these battery vehicles. Since salt can corrode the batteries, we strongly recommend FCL shipping instead of RoRo.
8.3 Shipping Costs
The shipping costs really depend on your location from China. Usually countries that are closer have cheaper shipping. While countries that are located on the other side of the world tend to have more expensive shipping.
But in general, costs can vary anywhere between $850 and $4,500. This is a big price difference but usually that’s the case with overseas shipping.
Also, RoRo is a bit cheaper option if you want to go that route. FCL is on the higher end of the spectrum but a much safer way to ship electric cars.
8.4 Transit Times
Transit times depend on your country of residence, as well as how fast the ship is cleared to start its journey. But this usually takes anywhere between 20 and 40 days until the shipment reaches its destination.
If something happens along the way, it can take a bit more. That’s why you should be prepared for this and be patient. Patience is key when it comes to shipping a car.
8.5 Insurance Options
And the insurance options are definitely worth your time. There can be damage during shipping and you should insure the car before you decide to ship it to your location.
This way you will be completely covered if something happens along the way and something gets damaged. So, paying this small fee is definitely worth it.
