Home/Guides

Guides from the
export desk.

Long-form analysis and practical guides written by our Shanghai team. No fluff, no SEO filler — just the things we wish every first-time Chinese EV importer knew before they signed their first contract.

Articles30
Avg. read time~9 min
UpdatedApril 2026
Guides · 4 Rankings & Brands · 10 Markets · 3 Analysis · 9 Reference · 4
01 — Guides

Practical guides.

The Real Guide to Importing Geely & Zeekr in 2026
Guide · Import

The Real Guide to Importing Geely & Zeekr in 2026

What's structurally different in 2026 versus 2023-24, why the old playbooks don't work, and how independent Geely/Zeekr dealers are actually winning in this cycle.

10 min read Read →
Starting an EV Dealership in an Emerging Market
Guide · Dealership

Starting an EV Dealership in an Emerging Market

Not theoretical. A practical walkthrough of capital requirements, first-year volume, showroom and service setup, and the three business models that actually work.

11 min read Read →
Chinese EV Warranty in Emerging Markets — What to Promise Your Buyers
Guide · Warranty

Chinese EV Warranty in Emerging Markets — What to Promise Your Buyers

The warranty situation for imported Chinese EVs in markets without official distributor presence is messier than it looks. Here's what's realistic, what's not, and how to structure your own customer commitment.

8 min read Read →
The Cheapest Chinese EVs Worth Importing — 2026 Buyer's Guide
Guide · Affordable EV

The Cheapest Chinese EVs Worth Importing — 2026 Buyer's Guide

Low FOB is not the same thing as low total cost of ownership. A practical guide to the affordable Chinese EVs that earn their price tag.

10 min read Read →
02 — Rankings & Brands

Model & brand rankings.

Best Chinese Electric Cars in 2026 — A Dealer's Working List
Reference · Model Ranking

Best Chinese Electric Cars in 2026 — A Dealer's Working List

Not a listicle. After shipping containers of Chinese EVs for three years, here are the ones we'd actually stock in an emerging-market showroom — and the ones we'd skip.

12 min read Read →
Top 10 Chinese Car Brands Explained — 2026 Export Perspective
Reference · Brand Map

Top 10 Chinese Car Brands Explained — 2026 Export Perspective

Every automotive publication has a 'top Chinese brands' listicle. Most of them are written by people who haven't shipped a car. This one is organised by what matters when you actually have to sell them.

11 min read Read →
Chinese EV Brands Tier List 2026 — Premium, Mainstream, Budget
Reference · Brand Tiers

Chinese EV Brands Tier List 2026 — Premium, Mainstream, Budget

Chinese EV brands are often lumped together in Western coverage. They shouldn't be. A structured tier list across premium, mainstream, and budget.

10 min read Read →
Chinese Luxury Cars — The Premium EVs Built for Export
Segment · Premium

Chinese Luxury Cars — The Premium EVs Built for Export

Ten years ago, 'Chinese luxury car' was an oxymoron. In 2026 it's a category Geely Holding Group has quietly become very good at — driven mostly by Zeekr.

9 min read Read →
Chinese PHEV & Hybrid Cars — The 2026 Dealer's Playbook
Segment · PHEV

Chinese PHEV & Hybrid Cars — The 2026 Dealer's Playbook

Not every emerging market has the charging infrastructure for pure BEVs. This is the segment where China has quietly opened a durable lead.

10 min read Read →
Compact Urban Chinese EVs for Export — 2026 Model Guide
Segment · Compact EV

Compact Urban Chinese EVs for Export — 2026 Model Guide

Not every emerging-market buyer needs a long-range mid-size SUV. Fleet-grade ride-hail, last-mile delivery, and young urban retail buyers all want something small, cheap, and efficient.

8 min read Read →
Fleet Sourcing from China — EV Wholesale for Corporate Buyers
Segment · Fleet

Fleet Sourcing from China — EV Wholesale for Corporate Buyers

A ride-hail platform buying 50 Geely Galaxy E5s operates very differently from a single-car retail importer. Fleet pricing, fleet service, and fleet homologation all have their own logic.

9 min read Read →
BYD Electric Car Prices in China — Export Reality Check
Reference · BYD

BYD Electric Car Prices in China — Export Reality Check

The BYD price you see on Chinese-domestic listing sites is not the price you'll pay to export one. Understand the gap between China MSRP and landed export cost.

9 min read Read →
Geely Cars Price & Export Guide — 2026
Reference · Geely

Geely Cars Price & Export Guide — 2026

A practical pricing and export guide covering Geely's main export models in 2026. Why Geely's portfolio fits independent dealers.

10 min read Read →
Zeekr Export Guide — 001, 007, X, 9X for Global Dealers
Reference · Zeekr

Zeekr Export Guide — 001, 007, X, 9X for Global Dealers

A complete overview of Zeekr's export lineup in 2026. Which markets have direct-distributor presence, where independent dealers still have room.

11 min read Read →
03 — Markets

By market.

Chinese Cars in Dubai — UAE Dealer's 2026 Import Guide
Market · UAE

Chinese Cars in Dubai — UAE Dealer's 2026 Import Guide

The UAE has become one of the most important export destinations for Chinese cars in 2026 — especially at the premium end. Here's how the market actually works for small and mid-volume dealers importing through Jebel Ali.

10 min read Read →
Chinese Cars in Mexico — Export Guide for 2026 Dealers
Market · Mexico

Chinese Cars in Mexico — Export Guide for 2026 Dealers

Mexico is a unique market — geographically adjacent to the US, tariff-complicated, and already served by strong Chinese manufacturer presence. This is how independent dealers can still win.

10 min read Read →
Chinese Electric Cars in Europe — The 2026 Dealer Landscape
Market · Europe

Chinese Electric Cars in Europe — The 2026 Dealer Landscape

Europe is no longer a 'future' market for Chinese EVs. For independent importers, the question isn't whether to enter Europe but where the structural gaps still are.

11 min read Read →
04 — Analysis

Deep analysis.

CBU vs SKD for Small Dealers — Which Actually Saves You Money
Analysis · Shipping

CBU vs SKD for Small Dealers — Which Actually Saves You Money

Every forwarder will tell you SKD saves money. Sometimes they're right. Sometimes it's irrelevant complexity that costs you more than CBU. Here's how to tell which is which.

7 min read Read →
The Real Cost of Importing a Chinese EV — Structural Breakdown
Analysis · Cost

The Real Cost of Importing a Chinese EV — Structural Breakdown

A structural breakdown of where your money goes on an EV import — vehicle, shipping, duties, registration, partner fees — so you can model it for your market before asking for a quote.

8 min read Read →
Opinion · Quality

"Chinese Copies"? A Reality Check for 2026 Buyers

The "Chinese cars are copies" reputation made sense in 2008. In 2026 it's embarrassingly out of date. Here's what actually changed — and what hasn't.

9 min read Read →
Why Your First Chinese EV Container Usually Goes Wrong
Analysis · Mistakes

Why Your First Chinese EV Container Usually Goes Wrong

After enough first-timer shipments, the mistakes become predictable. Seven things that trip up new importers — and how experienced dealers sidestep them.

7 min read Read →
Used Chinese EVs for Export — The 2026 Landscape
Analysis · Used

Used Chinese EVs for Export — The 2026 Landscape

The used Chinese EV export market is growing fast but remains regulatory-messy. What's legitimate, what's grey-market, and how to verify what you're buying.

9 min read Read →
Buying Cars from China — Alibaba vs Direct Dealer Export
Analysis · Sourcing

Buying Cars from China — Alibaba vs Direct Dealer Export

First-time importers almost always start on Alibaba. Usually they stop there fast — once they realise what they're actually looking at.

8 min read Read →
New Chinese EV Models 2026 — Export-Ready Launches to Watch
Analysis · New Models

New Chinese EV Models 2026 — Export-Ready Launches to Watch

China launches dozens of new EV models every year — most are irrelevant for export dealers in emerging markets. Here are the few 2026 launches that actually matter.

8 min read Read →
NIO vs Zeekr vs BYD — Premium Chinese EV Comparison
Analysis · Brand Comparison

NIO vs Zeekr vs BYD — Premium Chinese EV Comparison

Three Chinese EV brands that frequently appear in the same buyer consideration set — but solve very different problems for an export dealer.

11 min read Read →
EV Cars from China — The Complete 2026 Export Overview
Analysis · Market Overview

EV Cars from China — The Complete 2026 Export Overview

A structural overview of how Chinese EV exports actually work in 2026 — who makes what, who ships where, and how independent dealers plug into the supply chain.

12 min read Read →
05 — Reference

Reference tables.

Right-Hand Drive Geely & Zeekr — What's Actually Available
Reference · RHD

Right-Hand Drive Geely & Zeekr — What's Actually Available

Factory RHD versus aftermarket conversion is not a small distinction. A reference on what's factory RHD, what's aftermarket, and why you should never buy the latter.

6 min read Read →
Choosing CBU, SKD, or CKD by Target Market
Reference · Shipping

Choosing CBU, SKD, or CKD by Target Market

A reference table of shipping mode recommendations for the markets we actively serve, with the reasoning behind each.

7 min read Read →
Long-Range Chinese EVs — 700 km+ Options in 2026
Reference · Range

Long-Range Chinese EVs — 700 km+ Options in 2026

A buyer pulling up a spec sheet wants one number first: range. Here are the Chinese EVs that clear 700 km CLTC in 2026 — and which real-world numbers to trust.

9 min read Read →
FOB, CIF, DDP Explained — The Incoterms Every Importer Needs to Know
Reference · Incoterms

FOB, CIF, DDP Explained — The Incoterms Every Importer Needs to Know

Incoterms are boring and they also determine who pays if a container falls off a ship. If you're importing Chinese cars, three of them matter: FOB, CIF, and DDP.

7 min read Read →

Ready to source your next shipment?

Send an RFQ via WhatsApp or email. Our Shanghai export desk will scope your requirements and return a qualified FOB / CIF / DDP quotation — typically within one Shanghai business day.

Chat on WhatsApp All Contact Channels →
Chat on WhatsApp