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Import guide

Importing Geely and Zeekr without nasty surprises

A short version of the FOBEV guide for dealers and fleet buyers: channels, shipping modes, papers, payment and homologation.

Three ways to buy

Factory direct

Cheapest per car, but needs 50+ units per model a year, trade finance and a distributor agreement. Out of reach for most small dealers.

Licensed exporter

A Chinese trading company with an export licence. Its margin is in the price, but single units are normal. FOBEV works in this channel.

Local broker

Imports and resells. Highest price, often no support; only useful in niche cases.

CBU, SKD or CKD

The mode can move landed cost by 20–60%. In Bangladesh cumulative CBU duty can pass 150%, and SKD with a bonded assembler can cut that sharply.

CBUComplete car, drive away. Quickest and simplest paperwork; suits moderate tariffs.
SKDPartly disassembled; for markets like Bangladesh or Pakistan with high CBU duty. Needs local reassembly.
CKDFull kit for local assembly where tariffs and local-content rules are strict.

Papers you will need

  • Bill of lading
  • Commercial invoice
  • Packing list (every part listed for SKD/CKD)
  • CCPIT certificate of origin
  • Manufacturer technical file
  • All-risk marine insurance certificate
  • Plus market items: GCC conformity, EU WVTA/COC, UK IVA, national homologation in Latin America, OTTS/SVTS in Russia

Money and approvals

T/T is 30% at signing and 70% against a copy of the bill of lading. For orders above USD 200,000 a sight L/C from a first-class bank is often better.

Local type approval stays with the importer. FOBEV supplies the manufacturer files and spec sheets your authority asks for but does not file on your behalf.

Timing

Order to loading30–45 days in stock, 60–90 days on allocation
Sea transit7–10 days to the Russian Far East, 14–22 to the Gulf and South Asia, 30–40 to East Africa and Europe, 35–45 to Latin America
Door to doorAbout 2–4 months