China's Second-Hand Car Exports Are Booming

China's second-hand car exports have been witnessing a remarkable growth trend in recent years, becoming an emerging force in the global automotive market. According to Xinhua News Agency, on May 28, 2025, at the First Sichuan Used Car Export Supply-Demand Matchmaking Conference held in Chengdu, deals worth over 1 billion yuan (about 139 million U.S. dollars) were sealed, indicating the surging demand for Chinese second-hand cars in the international market. This growth comes after China fully opened the used car export market in March 2024. Sichuan Province alone exported over 10,000 used cars worth 1.4 billion yuan from January to April 2025, a 32 percent increase year on year. In 2024, China's second-hand car export volume exceeded 400,000 units, exporting to over 160 countries and regions, including Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Europe. The China Automobile Dealers Association Vice-President Luo Lei said that China is entering a golden era for used-car exports, driven by both policy support and surging demand. With motor vehicle ownership exceeding 400 million units in China, a mature supply-chain system and a portfolio of highly cost-effective models provide a solid foundation for second-hand car exports. However, China's second-hand car exports also face some challenges. For example, some foreign governments have begun to tighten rules, banning imports of zero - kilometer used cars through stricter regulations and certification requirements. In addition, China's second-hand car exports need to establish a collaborative development pattern guided by the government, led by enterprises, and empowered by associations to break through overseas market barriers. Despite the challenges, the future of China's second-hand car exports looks promising. Chinese automotive enterprises are deeply cultivating global markets with differentiated strategies, which is continuously expanding the penetration and influence of Chinese automobiles in the global market, bringing new opportunities to the second-hand car market.