A total of 78 Chinese unauthorized dealers are allowed to sell imported cars after a pilot in China's free trade zones began in October 2014, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Tuesday.
Referred to as parallel import of cars, the program seeks to give Chinese customers more choice and curb high prices, according to an MOC official.
It is on trial in the Shanghai, Guangdong, Tianjin and Fujian free trade zones. Some multinational auto companies strengthened regulation of foreign dealers and refused to offer after-sale guarantees or adjust engine displacement, adding difficulty to parallel import of cars, according to the official.
Meanwhile, the current customs clearance, taxation and other procedures failed to accommodate the parallel import of cars. Slackening domestic demands also dented their sale, the official added.
MOC will work together with other departments to set new rules to promote fair competition and improve related mechanisms to speed up the development of parallel import of cars.
Latest comments