Choosing wrong shipping mode is the single most expensive mistake first-time Geely importers make. Wrong choice can add 20–40% to total landed cost, or add weeks of unnecessary local assembly work that wasn't needed.
CBU — Complete Built Unit
Geely or Zeekr arrives at your port fully assembled, ready to start and drive off the ship. Simplest mode. Factory QC complete. Homologation doc is for a single finished vehicle. Destination-side: customs clearance and registration only.
When CBU is right
- Destination market applies moderate or low import duties on CBU
- You don't have local assembly infrastructure
- Lead-time is critical — CBU ships faster than SKD/CKD
- You're importing single or small unit counts
Typical CBU markets
UAE and Gulf states, most of Europe, Russia (new vehicles), most LatAm, Singapore, Hong Kong, sub-Saharan Africa.
SKD — Semi-Knocked Down
Geely is partially disassembled at factory before shipping. Typical removals: bumpers, wheels, headlights, some trim, sometimes the battery pack for EVs. Customer or local assembly partner reinstalls after clearance.
When SKD is right
- Destination has punitive CBU tariffs but preferential SKD (Bangladesh, Pakistan)
- You have access to a licensed bonded assembly partner
- Volume justifies the assembly-side setup (typically 20+ units per shipment)
Typical SKD markets
Bangladesh (huge advantage vs CBU), Pakistan (required by EDB policy for many models), some SEA markets with local-content incentives, parts of Africa with "knock-down" preferential tariffs.
CKD — Complete Knocked Down
Full parts kit. Every component separate. Local assembly required. CKD receives lowest tariff treatment in almost every market that recognizes the category.
When CKD is right
- You operate (or partner with) a full assembly plant
- Market has extremely high CBU tariffs and significant CKD incentives
- Annual volume (typically 500+ units per model) justifies assembly infrastructure setup
Typical CKD markets
Pakistan's Auto Industry Development and Export Policy explicitly promotes CKD. Egypt's local-content requirements favor CKD. Russia's "industrial assembly" framework has CKD programs. Indonesia's LCE program rewards CKD EVs. Malaysia uses Proton facilities for some Geely CKD (this is how EX5 becomes Proton eMas 7).
Quick decision framework
| Your situation | Recommended mode |
|---|---|
| First shipment, 1-3 units, moderate-tariff market | CBU |
| First shipment, 1-3 units, high-tariff market | CBU — SKD overhead not justified |
| 10-20 units, high-tariff market, local partner | SKD |
| 10-20 units, high-tariff market, no partner | CBU or find partner first |
| 100+ units annually, high-tariff, assembly plant | CKD |
| ASEAN markets with local-content incentives | SKD or CKD |
First-shipment default
For first-time Geely/Zeekr importers in any market: start with CBU. Only move to SKD/CKD after you've proven the vehicle, market demand, and your logistics partner chain.