“The parent group of Kaihua is headquartered in Jiamusi. The company has been deeply engaged in the passenger‑car dealership sector for many years, using Jiamusi as a hub to serve the entire province and operating more than 20 passenger‑car 4S dealerships,” said Zhen Zhuo, Deputy General Manager of Heilongjiang Kaihua Automobile Import & Export Trading Co., Ltd. “Today, domestic car prices are highly transparent, and competition in the industry is fierce. The Russian market offers substantial potential, and we must seize this opportunity.”

Since receiving approval in June last year as one of the first pilot enterprises for used-car exports, Kaihua’s automotive sales business has effectively opened “the door to a new world”—in less than a year, it has already cleared customs and exported more than 1,400 used vehicles.

Currently, Kaihua’s used‑car exports are primarily passenger and commercial vehicles, with a smaller share of specialized and special‑purpose vehicles. Domestic brands such as Geely, Great Wall, and Changan account for roughly 60% of its export volume. Russia, along with Central Asian countries like Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, currently constitute Kaihua’s main export markets for used cars.

European, American, Japanese, and Korean automotive brands have seen their market share in Russia gradually shrink, while domestic Russian brands have proven unable to meet the country’s substantial demand. Over the past two years, Chinese carmakers have gained increasing recognition among Russian consumers thanks to their competitive pricing, solid performance, and appealing designs. During its first year of operating in the used‑car trade with Russia, Kaihua has primarily exported “zero‑kilometer” pre‑owned passenger vehicles to Russia and Central Asian countries, with SUVs priced between roughly RMB 100,000 and RMB 200,000 proving especially popular. “We leverage our group’s existing 4S dealerships to handle registration transfers for export, and we also source vehicles through nationwide relocations. All shipments pass through a handful of provincial border crossings into Russia, with customs clearance coordinated based on customer needs and routed via different ports within the province. This approach not only revitalizes our existing resources but also gives us a distinct advantage in export logistics—lower costs and higher margins, which is a significant benefit,” said Zhen Zhuo.

“Russians have a peak spending season before the New Year, which also marks a minor surge in new‑car purchases. Last December, we exported more than 200 vehicles to Russia in a single month,” Zhen Zhuo told reporters. He explained that the company operates on an order‑based model: when a Russian customer places an order, they pay a deposit of 30% to 50%, and Kaihua promptly procures the vehicles domestically and ships them over—requiring substantial use of the company’s own capital. December last year was the period when Kaihua faced its tightest cash flow; with support from government authorities, a “tax‑rebate loan” of RMB 3 million was swiftly disbursed. According to Zhen Zhuo, such measures have significantly eased the financial pressures faced by export‑oriented enterprises.

Although the used-car export business has only been underway for a year, Kaihua has already set its sights on making a big push. At present, the company has established overseas business divisions in Moscow, Bishkek, Almaty, and other locations, with resident representatives and dedicated vehicle display spaces. Foreign buyers can visit our showroom to inspect and test vehicles, enjoying a superior customer experience. We also welcome international clients to tour our domestic headquarters, where they can view and select their preferred models. “We plan to establish a dedicated brand for used‑car exports,” said Zhen Zhuo. Looking ahead, we intend to expand our used‑car export footprint to more countries. Moreover, beyond whole‑vehicle exports, there is significant demand for automotive parts, as well as for after‑sales maintenance services—opportunities that could open up new avenues in the future.

Heilongjiang Kaihua, Heilongjiang Used-Car Export Company, Heilongjiang Automobile Import and Export