Today is February 28, 2026, marking exactly 2 months since the official implementation of the battery electric vehicle (BEV) export license policy jointly launched by four ministries: the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the General Administration of Customs, and the State Administration for Market Regulation. As a landmark policy in the field of new energy vehicle exports at the start of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, starting from January 1, 2026, all passenger vehicles equipped only with drive motors and bearing Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) (corresponding to Customs Commodity Code 8703801090) must present a valid export license for customs clearance; no export is allowed without a license. This policy has not only completely ended the era of "wild growth" in BEV exports but also directly reshaped the industrial pattern of used BEV foreign trade. For every practitioner, understanding the policy and adapting to the new regulations has become a core prerequisite for survival and development.
[Core Policy Points (Practical Version After 2026 Implementation)]
Issuing Authorities: Department of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, General Administration of Customs, State Administration for Market Regulation
Issuing Document No.: Announcement No. 54 of 2025 jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, General Administration of Customs, and State Administration for Market Regulation (Official Implementation Version)
Implementation Date: January 1, 2026 (has been in effect for 2 months so far)
Core Purpose: To regulate the export order of BEVs (including compliant used cars), curb irregular export behaviors, promote the transformation of exports from "quantity growth" to "quality leap", and help upgrade the overseas development of China's new energy vehicle industrial chain.
Practical Requirements (Focus on Used Car Foreign Trade):
1. Scope of Application: Explicitly covers used BEVs (which must have VINs and be equipped only with drive motors), corresponding to Customs Commodity Code 8703801090. They implement the same license standards as new car exports, with no special exemptions.
2. Qualification Requirements: Only automobile manufacturers and their authorized operating enterprises can apply for export licenses; individuals and unauthorized small enterprises are not eligible. Enterprises must be included in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's "Announcement on Vehicle Production Enterprises and Products", hold the Compulsory Product Certification (CCC), and meet special compliance requirements for used car exports (for example, vehicles registered for less than 180 days must submit a "After-sales Maintenance Service Confirmation", otherwise, no license will be issued).
3. Declaration and Inspection: The application, issuance, and management procedures of export licenses shall be strictly implemented in accordance with the "Notice on Further Regulating the Export Order of Automobile and Motorcycle Products" (Shang Chan Fa [2012] No. 318). Customs inspection shall be based on the current "Catalogue of Import and Export Commodities Subject to Compulsory Inspection", focusing on verifying the consistency of used car condition inspection reports, export qualifications, and vehicle information. Irregular declarations will be reported to the enterprise and the licensing authority.
4. After-sales and Exit Mechanism: Type I enterprises (which can authorize 7 export operating enterprises) must have more than 50 overseas after-sales maintenance outlets and an annual export volume (including compliant used cars) of over 10,000 units; Type II enterprises must have a sound overseas after-sales docking channel and an annual export volume of no less than 3,000 units. At the same time, a negative list of dishonest behaviors in used car exports will be established, and irregular enterprises will be interviewed, required to rectify, or even have their export licenses restricted or revoked.
Source: Official Website of the Ministry of Commerce (2026 Policy Implementation Special Page)
Based on the actual situation of the policy's implementation over the past 2 months, this new regulation is not simply about "setting thresholds", but about completely reversing the previous irregularities in used BEV exports through precise supervision. In the past, many individuals or small institutions exploited policy loopholes, simply renovating inventory vehicles from domestic car companies in operational difficulties, used cars with unknown conditions, and even passing off "0-kilometer used cars" as new ones for export. This not only disrupted the overseas market order but also undermined the international reputation of Chinese automobiles. Since the implementation of the new regulation, such irregular operations have been fully curbed. Customs has significantly increased the intensity of inspections on licenses, used car condition inspection reports, and after-sales commitments during clearance, making compliance the only entry ticket for used car foreign trade.
Cui Dongshu, Secretary-General of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), interpreted the actual effects of the policy in a recent interview, combining export data for January 2026: "In the first month of the new regulation's implementation, the export order of BEVs has been significantly standardized, and irregular behaviors such as passing off '0-kilometer used cars' as new ones and parallel exports have basically disappeared. From the data perspective, 295,000 new energy passenger vehicles were exported in January, a year-on-year increase of 110%, of which compliant used BEVs accounted for about 17.3%. Although this is a slight decrease compared with the same period last year, the quality and reputation of exported vehicles have been significantly improved, which is a long-term benefit for regular used car foreign trade enterprises."
Wu Songquan, Senior Chief Expert of the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) and Chief Engineer of the China Automobile Strategy and Policy Research Center, also gave specific suggestions for used car foreign trade practitioners: "After the policy is implemented, small workshops and individual practitioners without qualifications and those who do not pay attention to after-sales services have been gradually eliminated, and industry differentiation has further intensified. For regular used car foreign trade enterprises, two core points should be focused on: first, improve their own qualifications to ensure compliance in license application, and strictly submit materials such as vehicle condition inspection reports and after-sales confirmation letters in accordance with requirements; second, deepen overseas services, especially the construction of after-sales outlets, which is not only a rigid requirement for applying for qualifications but also a core competitiveness for seizing the overseas market."
Combined with the latest export data in 2026 (as of February 26), we can more clearly see the impact of the policy on the industry: 681,000 automobiles were exported nationwide in January, a year-on-year increase of 44.9%, of which 302,000 were new energy vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 100%, accounting for 44.3% of the total automobile exports; 202,000 BEVs were exported, a year-on-year increase of 100% and a month-on-month increase of 16.9%, of which about 35,000 were compliant used BEVs. Although the scale has contracted, the export unit price and customer recognition have both increased, and overseas complaints have decreased by 42% year-on-year. These are positive changes brought about by policy standardization.
Looking back at the industry development, the lesson from China's motorcycle exports still needs to be heeded. In the 1990s, Chinese motorcycles quickly seized the Southeast Asian and African markets with their low-price advantages, but due to the lack of unified standards and after-sales systems, they were eventually labeled as "low-quality and low-price", and their market share shrank sharply. The implementation of the BEV export license policy this time is precisely to avoid this lesson, and through institutional constraints, guide the industry to shift from "low-price involution" to "quality competition", which is also the key to the long-term development of used car foreign trade.
For used car foreign trade practitioners, the past 2 months since the policy's implementation have been both an adaptation period and an adjustment period. Many compliant enterprises have felt positive changes in the market: irregular competitors have been eliminated, low-price vicious competition has decreased, and overseas customers' trust in Chinese used BEVs has gradually increased. Especially in core markets such as Europe and Southeast Asia, the order volume of compliant used cars has shown a steady growth trend--this confirms that the core of the policy is not to "restrict exports", but to "screen high-quality entities" and create a fairer and more sustainable overseas market environment for compliant enterprises.
Cui Dongshu further analyzed: "From the January data, new energy vehicle exports have extended from 'simply selling cars' to 'industrial chain going overseas'. The good progress of Sino-European and Sino-Canadian electric vehicle tariff negotiations has also brought new opportunities for used BEV exports. But the premise of opportunities is compliance. Only by adhering to the policy bottom line and improving vehicle condition inspection and after-sales guarantee can we seize this wave of overseas dividends."
It is generally believed in the industry that 2026 will be the "compliance reshuffling year" for used BEV foreign trade. After the policy is implemented, industry differentiation will continue to intensify: leading enterprises, with their sound qualifications, mature overseas after-sales outlets, and compliant operation models, will become the biggest beneficiaries and gradually seize more overseas market share; while small enterprises or individuals without qualifications, unwilling to invest in after-sales services, and still wanting to compete by low prices will be completely eliminated by the market. The entire industry will gradually move towards a standardized, healthy, and high-quality development track.
From a long-term development perspective, Wu Songquan judged: "This new regulation will restructure the export order of BEVs (including used cars) from three aspects: first, strengthen the compliance bottom line, making 'compliant operation' a consensus in the industry; second, promote service upgrading, forcing enterprises to improve their overseas after-sales systems and enhance core competitiveness; third, guide brand upgrading, get rid of the 'low-price label', and establish a good reputation for Chinese used BEVs in the global market. In the long run, this will help China's new energy vehicle industrial chain achieve high-quality overseas layout and open up broader development space for used car foreign trade enterprises."
Finally, combining the practical experience of the policy's implementation over 2 months, here are 3 key suggestions for all used BEV foreign trade practitioners: First, immediately check your own export qualifications to confirm whether you meet the conditions for license application. If not up to standard, quickly connect with authorized enterprises or improve your own qualifications to avoid affecting order performance; Second, standardize the export process, strictly prepare materials such as vehicle condition inspection reports and after-sales confirmation letters in accordance with requirements to ensure smooth customs clearance; Third, increase investment in overseas after-sales services, gradually improve the construction of after-sales outlets, enhance customer service capabilities, and seize the opportunity of the compliant overseas market with the help of policy standardization.
In 2026, the core competitiveness of used BEV foreign trade has shifted from "low price" to "compliance + service". Only by actively adapting to the policy, adhering to the compliance bottom line, and deepening service quality can we gain a firm foothold in the industry reshuffling and seize the era opportunity of the new energy vehicle industrial chain going overseas.
Company Name: Jingsun Car Co., Ltd
Website: https://www.sin-auto.com/?url=jingsuncar.com
Service Countries: Ghana / Algeria / Cambodia / Middle East / East Africa (Years of practical experience, familiar with customs clearance rules of various countries)