this post was submitted on 25 Jun 2025
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China's auto industry has inflated car sales for years through a burgeoning government-backed grey market that registers new cars right off the assembly line and then ships them overseas as "used" vehicles.

These so-called "zero-mileage" cars have never been driven but they are being exported as used to markets like Russia, Central Asia and the Middle East, allowing Chinese automakers to show growth and to dispose of cars that it would be difficult to sell domestically, according to a Reuters review of government documents and interviews with five auto dealers and car traders.

"This is the outcome of an almost-four-year price war that has made companies desperate to book any sales possible," said Tu Le, Michigan-based founder of consultancy Sino Auto Insights.

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[–] Moonrise2473@feddit.it 3 points 57 minutes ago

In my western country, car dealers do the same in order to meet their sales target

[–] MonsterMonster@lemmy.world 7 points 3 hours ago

For decades Ford Europe has had an employee scheme whereby they can get brand new hugely discounted cars every few months. This extended to their families and friends. Each employee could request several vouchers from Ford which are then used at a Ford dealership in exchange for a car on incredibly good finance payments. This was designed to boost the number of registered cars straight from the assembly line.

[–] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 16 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

If I understand the explanation, its like when an author (or their proxies) buys thousands (millions) of copies of their own book to make them "sold" so that they can raise their standing on the "Best Seller's List".

[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

It never occurred to me that authors would do that, but of course they would.

[–] 13igTyme@lemmy.world 3 points 1 hour ago

That's what politicians, famous people, and anyone who works with a charity does.

[–] Bbbbbbbbbbb@lemmy.world 6 points 5 hours ago (2 children)

So like whats the problem? New car for used car prices? I dont understand

[–] 52fighters@lemmy.sdf.org 7 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

The Chinese government is paying huge incentives for every car sold. This is their way of gaming the system to subsidize their industry and undercut non-Chinese auto makers.

[–] xenomor@lemmy.world -1 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

I guess they just want to win more than the competition does.

[–] psx_crab@lemmy.zip 2 points 3 hours ago

This sort of "win" can end in two way, either the average car price is being lowered and benefiting consumer, or low level employees getting shoved for the lower margin of profits. Or both. Either way, it mean more new car on the road.

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 8 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Undercutting competitors to establish a monopoly.

[–] xenomor@lemmy.world -4 points 3 hours ago

In other words, they competing and winning. Sounds like the competition really needs to do better.

[–] xenomor@lemmy.world 5 points 6 hours ago (2 children)

“Inflated car sales” aka ‘sold more product’

“Dispose of cars” aka ‘sold internationally’

“Price war” aka ‘free market’

[–] narr1@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 hours ago

I love it, the capitalists can't win even in their own game!

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 7 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago) (2 children)

Production is subsidized by the government, so it's not a free market.

[–] xenomor@lemmy.world 0 points 3 hours ago

What absolute nonsense. It’s a free market, the unsubsidized companies are just at a market disadvantage. You’re just whining about the competition working together to compete better.