Getting Started
Import Overview - EV Hub Docs
The end-to-end process of importing a Chinese EV into an export market, from supplier due diligence to registration, with realistic timelines and common failure points.
Import Overview: From Factory to Your Door
Importing a Chinese EV is a sequence of roughly ten steps, and the order matters. Almost every failed import we see at MCM collapsed because a step was done out of order — usually payment before due diligence, or registration before certification.
The ten-step sequence
| # | Step | What actually happens | Typical lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Select the vehicle | Confirm exact trim, battery spec, VIN availability | 1–2 weeks |
| 2 | Supplier due diligence | Verify export license, COC documentation, payment terms | 1–3 weeks |
| 3 | Place the order | Signed proforma invoice, deposit (10–30%) | 1 week |
| 4 | Payment | Balance before shipment; consider escrow or letter of credit | 1–2 weeks |
| 5 | Ocean freight | RoRo or container to the destination port | 4–8 weeks |
| 6 | Customs clearance | Broker files entry; duty and countervailing duty assessed | 3–7 days |
| 7 | Pay duties & VAT | Duty at import; VAT due or deferred depending on market | At clearance |
| 8 | Certification & homologation | EU WVTA, UK IVA, or country-specific approval | 2–6 weeks |
| 9 | Registration | Local plates, road tax, insurance | 1–2 weeks |
| 10 | Delivery | Inland transport to buyer or pickup | 2–7 days |
The two long poles
Two steps dominate your timeline:
- Ocean freight (4–8 weeks) — RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) is the standard for EVs. Transit time varies with the shipping lane and port congestion.
- Certification (2–6 weeks) — Turning an ex-China vehicle into one legal on your local roads. This is where most delays hide.
Budget 3–4 months end-to-end on your first import. It compresses substantially once you have a trusted supplier and a dialed-in homologation route.
Where the money actually goes
The single biggest misconception is treating the import as “the car plus one tax.” It’s a stacked calculation. You pay:
- Standard import duty — a percentage of the CIF value (car + insurance + freight).
- Countervailing duty — an anti-subsidy tariff on top of the standard duty (EU markets only, and producer-specific).
- VAT / GST — charged last, on the duty-inclusive total.
Then fixed costs on top: RoRo freight, customs clearance, certification/homologation, registration, and inland transport.
The full formula and worked examples are in the Landed Cost section.
Common failure points
- Paying a supplier before verifying their export license. Always verify the Certificate of Origin (COC) and export documentation exists before wiring money.
- Assuming CLTC range equals real-world range. CLTC figures run 15–30% higher than WLTP. Budget battery performance accordingly.
- Skipping homologation planning. A car that’s legal in China is not automatically legal in the EU or UK. Certification is a separate, non-optional step.
- Ignoring currency risk. A multi-month lead time means the USD/CNY and USD/GBP or USD/EUR rates can move against you.
Next steps
Start with the market-specific guides in this documentation, then run your target vehicle through the landed-cost calculator to see the real numbers.