Shanghai FTZ begins to pilot parallel import of cars   

上海自贸区今起试点平行进口车

只能从4S店单一渠道购车的时代将成为历史。《经济参考报》记者从上海市发展和改革委员会了解到，上海自贸区平行进口汽车交易中心定于2月9日起正式试营业。这意味着长期处于灰色地带的汽车平行进口，将在上海自贸区率先正规化。[查看全文]

(ECNS) -- Shanghai launched a pilot program on Monday for the parallel import of cars in its free trade zone, allowing certain dealers to import vehicles directly from overseas, according to the Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission.

The scheme, which allows cars to be imported from abroad without authorization from any particular carmaker, will weaken automaker control on the pricing of imported vehicles and provide lower prices for Chinese buyers, according to a statement issued by the Shanghai Commission of Commerce.

The price of parallel imported cars is about 10 to 25 percent lower if the purchase had been made through a brand's distribution network.

Requirements for auto dealers wishing to join the program include having been in the auto business for more than five years, having made a profit for the past three consecutive years and having annual sales of over 400 million yuan ($67 million) in the previous financial year, the statement added.

Firms should also have wholly-owned subsidiaries or holding companies, which are qualified to sell vehicles, registered in the FTZ.

The Shanghai FTZ administrative committee has received applications from more than 10 dealers thus far.

According to the China Automobile Circular Association, among the 21.98 million automobiles sold in the country during 2013, 1.07 million were imported finished cars, and of the imported cars, 83,000 were delivered directly from their production bases, bypassing authorized dealers.

In Shanghai's FTZ, the parallel-import market will be under regular legal and policy supervision.