Ministry of Commerce and other departments: Strictly control the export of new cars under the name of used cars

The Zhitong Finance App learned that on November 14, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, and the General Administration of Customs issued a notice on further strengthening the management of used car exports. Among them, it was mentioned that exports of new cars under the name of used cars are strictly controlled. Starting from January 1, 2026, for vehicles applying for export less than 180 days (including 180 days) from the registration date, local commercial authorities shall guide local enterprises to submit an additional “After-Sales Maintenance Service Certificate” issued by the vehicle manufacturer, including the country of export, vehicle information, information on outlets providing after-sales service, etc., and stamped with the manufacturer's official seal. An export license will not be issued for vehicles that cannot provide the above materials. For vehicles that have been registered for transfer and are awaiting export procedures before the date of implementation of the notice, enterprises should be guided to perform the contract well and export them in an orderly manner.

The original text is as follows:

Notice of the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security and the General Administration of Customs on Further Strengthening Used Car Export Management

Commercial, industrial and information technology departments of all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government and planned separate municipalities, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, the Department of Public Security (Bureau), the Guangdong Branch of the General Administration of Customs, and customs offices directly under its supervision:

In order to thoroughly implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, further standardize the competitive order of the automobile industry, and promote the healthy and orderly development of China's used car exports, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, and the General Administration of Customs have decided to further strengthen the management of used car exports. The relevant matters are hereby notified as follows:

1. Stricter export management of used cars

(1) Strictly control the export of new cars under the name of used cars. Starting from January 1, 2026, for vehicles applying for export less than 180 days (including 180 days) from the registration date, local commercial authorities shall guide local enterprises to submit an additional “After-Sales Maintenance Service Certificate” issued by the vehicle manufacturer, including the country of export, vehicle information, information on outlets providing after-sales service, etc., and stamped with the manufacturer's official seal. An export license will not be issued for vehicles that cannot provide the above materials. For vehicles that have been registered for transfer and are awaiting export procedures before the date of implementation of the notice, enterprises should be guided to perform the contract well and export them in an orderly manner.

(2) Regulate the application and issuance of export licenses. Local commercial authorities should guide enterprises to complete the export license application information in a standardized manner. The details of the vehicle brand, model, registration date, and transfer registration pending export date should be consistent with the “Motor Vehicle Registration Certificate”. The date of registration and the date of transfer registration to be exported are entered in the export license schedule. An export license will not be issued for those who fail to fill in the above information as required. The Ministry of Commerce will closely monitor the filing of export license information and notify enterprises and relevant issuing agencies that have repeatedly filed illegal reports.

(3) Establish enterprise dynamic management and exit mechanisms. Local commercial authorities should strengthen the construction of local used car export credit evaluation systems, carry out daily supervision and dynamic management of enterprises against the “Negative List of Dishonest Practices in Used Car Exports”, and standardize the business behavior and export competition order. Enterprises with dishonest behavior should be promptly interviewed, and enterprises that have committed multiple acts of dishonesty, failed to provide timely export vehicle maintenance technology and spare parts support, or failed to fulfill quality assurance obligations, or where such corporate legal entities and related parties have set up separate enterprises to carry out used car export business, they shall be ordered to formulate and implement rectification measures for previous dishonest acts. When accepting and reviewing their export license applications, a decision on whether to grant a license should be made by comprehensively considering the implementation of the rectification and reform.

II. Further strengthen compliance reviews

(4) Strict license application conditions for exporting vehicles under the name of modified cars. Local commercial authorities should guide modified car exporters to accurately fill in information such as vehicle chassis brands, modified car brands, vehicle models, etc., and submit proof of the authenticity of the modifications. Export licenses will not be issued for similar modified vehicle products that are not included in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's “Notice on Road Motor Vehicle Manufacturers and Products” and do not have a valid national mandatory product certification for which the authenticity of the modification cannot be proven. It is necessary to investigate the export situation of local modified vehicle manufacturers, the modified production capacity corresponding to the export volume, etc., and promptly report the relevant situation to the Ministry of Commerce. The Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the General Administration of Customs will closely monitor and promptly share abnormal conditions in all aspects of modified vehicle exports, and step up inspection and punishment.

3. Continue to promote the healthy development of used car exports

(5) Enhance the ability of enterprises to operate internationally. Local commercial authorities should make full use of various trade promotion platforms to support enterprises in developing diversified markets. Enterprises that are in a position to do so should be encouraged to establish public display and trading markets in key markets and expand comprehensive services such as marketing and warehousing. It is necessary to establish and improve training systems to guide enterprises to carry out business in compliance through policy presentations and experience exchanges.

(6) Improve the export support system. Local commercial authorities should build on long-term development and guide exporters, automobile manufacturers, and overseas importers to work together to provide after-sales service and guarantee the supply of maintenance parts and technical support. It is necessary to promote exchanges and cooperation between export enterprises and supply chain supporting enterprises such as logistics, finance, and third-party quality assurance agencies. It is necessary to explore and develop a trading market dedicated to used car exports, and carry out “one-stop” services such as used car export preparation, inspection, customs clearance, and logistics to provide support and guarantee for the healthy and sustainable development of used car exports.

This article was selected from the “Ministry of Commerce” official website, Zhitong Finance Editor: Jiang Yuanhua.