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China plans crackdown on zero-mileage used car sales
Reuters | July 21, 2025 6:00 AM CST

Synopsis

China's industry ministry is considering a ban on reselling cars within six months of registration to tackle the issue of zero-mileage used cars. This practice, driven by intense competition and overcapacity, involves registering new vehicles to meet sales targets, creating problems for consumers. Automakers like Chery and BYD are planning to hold dealers accountable for such violations.

Shanghai: China's industry ministry is planning to ban the resale of cars within six months of their initial registration as part of efforts to combat sales of so-called zero-mileage used cars, an industry association publication reported on Saturday.

Zero-mileage used cars have emerged in China as a result of the uniquely cut-throat competition for sales in the world's largest auto market, which is reeling from a brutal, years-long price war caused by chronic overcapacity.

The practice involves insuring a new vehicle before it is sold, allowing automakers and their dealers to meet sales targets. But it can create hassles for customers.

Auto Review, a publication run by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, reported the plan in an editorial published on its WeChat account. It said that the China Automobile Dealers Association, another industry group, had separately proposed a code system for exports of used cars.

The editorial added that Chery and BYD were among companies planning to hold dealers accountable for violations, including licensing cars before they are sold.

The measures, if enforced, would mark the first policy action taken by the Chinese government to stop the practice, which became a nationwide issue after Great Wall Motor CEO Wei Jianjun called it out in May.


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