China New Car Exports: Factory-Direct Supply vs Modified Vehicle Exports

Following China’s announcement of the “180-day policy” in November 2025, exporting newly registered vehicles through the used-car route became more restricted. For overseas importers, two prominent sourcing routes are factory-direct supply and exports through vehicle modification companies.

These routes have different purchasing requirements, delivery timelines, and risks. Before paying a supplier, importers need to understand where the vehicles come from, who controls delivery, and who can provide support after arrival.

Factory-Direct Vehicle Exports from China

Factory-direct sourcing means working with an automaker to arrange vehicle production and export. Depending on the manufacturer’s offer, buyers may be able to negotiate specifications, equipment, and left-hand-drive or right-hand-drive configurations.

Manufacturers usually require a minimum order quantity or purchasing commitment. This creates a barrier for smaller importers buying only a few vehicles at a time.

Why Manufacturers Offer Direct Supply

Factory-direct opportunities often arise when an automaker has not yet officially entered the destination market or established a local dealer network.

At this stage, independent importers can help the manufacturer generate sales and introduce its vehicles to local buyers. The manufacturer therefore has a commercial reason to accept direct orders.

However, this opportunity may be temporary.

Once the brand officially enters the market through its own retail operations or authorized dealers, it needs to protect local pricing, dealer margins, and after-sales investment. Independent imports of the same vehicles at lower prices can create conflict with that network.

The manufacturer may then restrict or discontinue direct supply to independent importers in that country.

Opportunities may remain for models the manufacturer does not plan to launch locally, or slower-selling models it wants to distribute through additional channels. Access to a model today therefore does not guarantee continued supply.

For importers planning to build a long-term business around a brand, establishing a direct manufacturer relationship—and pursuing an authorized dealership—is a stronger foundation than relying on occasional sourcing opportunities.

Factory Orders Require Production Time

Factory-direct supply does not necessarily mean vehicles are available from stock.

Based on the sourcing experience discussed here, manufacturer orders generally require more than 20 days. Popular models may take over a month, and waiting times can extend considerably further when production capacity is tight.

The actual timeline depends on the model, configuration, and factory schedule. Export preparation and international shipping add further time.

Importers should account for the full delivery process before promising arrival dates to local customers.

Group Orders and Intermediaries: Where Sourcing Risk Increases

To meet factory purchasing requirements, some suppliers combine orders from several importers.

For example, a purchasing organizer might order 50 vehicles from a manufacturer and allocate five or ten vehicles to each buyer. This allows smaller importers to participate, but their delivery depends on the organizer’s allocation decisions.

Factory delays can affect the entire order. Smaller buyers may also receive lower priority if the organizer acquires a larger customer and reallocates available vehicles.

A genuine factory order therefore does not automatically mean a small importer has a secure delivery date.

Some Suppliers Assemble Orders from Multiple Sources

Other suppliers do not place their own orders with manufacturers. Instead, they approach businesses that already hold factory orders and collect spare production allocations or completed vehicles.

To fulfill an order for 100 vehicles, a supplier might source one or two vehicles from dozens of businesses.

In this arrangement, the supplier controls a network of contacts rather than a confirmed batch of vehicles. If the buyer must pay in full before sourcing begins, the buyer takes on considerable uncertainty.

The final delivery depends on whether each source can provide the promised vehicles, whether specifications match, and whether the supplier can assemble the full quantity on time. If sourcing fails, the importer may face missed sales commitments, delayed refunds, or financial losses.

Why ZEEX AUTO Does Not Use This New-Car Sourcing Model

Group purchasing and multi-supplier sourcing create risks across the entire supply chain.

The factory must produce on time. The purchasing organizer must allocate vehicles as promised. Individual suppliers must deliver their stock. The intermediary must assemble and release the complete order.

A failure at any stage can disrupt the buyer’s shipment.

Longer supply chains also make progress harder to verify. A delivery date may be based on an intermediary’s interpretation of an upstream promise, which itself depends on another supplier.

If the buyer has already paid in full, their funds remain tied up while these issues are resolved.

This is why ZEEX AUTO chooses not to offer new-car sourcing through pooled orders or fragmented supplier networks. Without sufficient control over the supply chain, we cannot make a dependable delivery commitment to our customers.

Importers whose purchasing volume meets a manufacturer’s requirements should use that scale to establish direct cooperation. Confirming orders, production schedules, payment terms, and delivery arrangements with the automaker reduces dependence on intermediaries.

Modified Vehicle Exports from China

The second route involves a vehicle modification company. Vehicles undergo modifications and the relevant application process before being exported under the modification company’s arrangements.

Some market practices involve relatively minor changes, such as adding a badge, camera, or other equipment, followed by an application under the modified vehicle’s product identity.

The main concern is that this route depends on the applicable modification and export requirements. It may also lack continuing support from the original automaker.

Tighter Requirements Reduce the Scope for Simple Modifications

Requirements announced in September 2026 for the 2027 export qualification application process increased scrutiny of certain simply modified vehicle categories. These categories require after-sales support confirmation from the original vehicle manufacturer.

This makes routes based on minor modifications without original-manufacturer support more difficult to maintain. Such arrangements may face substantial contraction in 2027.

Importers should distinguish between a supplier’s ability to arrange an export today and its ability to maintain that channel throughout the purchasing and delivery period.

Connected-Vehicle Restrictions Can Affect Overseas Use

For connected vehicles, buyers also need to understand whether the vehicle’s software and remote services will work in the destination country.

Some vehicles may experience restrictions on infotainment or connected functions overseas. Manufacturer-recognized sourcing can provide a clearer route for requesting assistance when problems occur.

For vehicles exported through modification arrangements without original-manufacturer recognition, resolving those issues may be more difficult.

Restrictions vary by model. Limited connected services are different from a vehicle being unable to drive, but either can affect the ownership experience.

Importers should confirm what overseas support is available and which responsibilities belong to the modification company or the original automaker before purchasing.

Should You Buy Directly from a Chinese Automaker?

From a cautious purchasing perspective, importers seeking new vehicles should prioritize direct manufacturer cooperation.

Buying through modification companies, group-order organizers, or other intermediaries adds exposure to uncertain stock availability, delivery delays, changing export arrangements, and limited manufacturer support.

For buyers with sufficient purchasing volume, direct sourcing also creates an opportunity to negotiate a lasting relationship and pursue authorized dealer status.

The goal should be a supply arrangement that remains viable as the brand develops its official presence in your market.

A Used-Car Export Alternative for Smaller Importers

If direct manufacturer cooperation is not practical, consider compliant used-vehicle sourcing through a specialist exporter.

Vehicles registered for more than 180 days still need to meet the applicable export and destination-market requirements. However, this approach allows importers to purchase according to actual demand rather than participate in a large pooled factory order.

ZEEX AUTO specializes in left-hand-drive used vehicles registered for more than 180 days. We support overseas importers and dealers with vehicle sourcing, China-side export procedures, and international shipping arrangements, with no minimum order quantity.

For importers who cannot yet establish a direct purchasing relationship with an automaker, ZEEX AUTO offers a used-car sourcing option that avoids dependence on fragmented new-car supply chains.

Contact ZEEX AUTO with your destination country, preferred models, and purchasing requirements to discuss suitable used vehicles and export arrangements.