A realistic timeline: sourcing and negotiation 3-7 days; deposit and booking 1-2 days; pre-shipment inspection 2-4 days; export clearance and vessel booking 7-14 days; sea freight 2-5 weeks depending on destination; import customs clearance and port release 5-10 days. Overall, plan for roughly 5-8 weeks from order to port of destination by sea. For Central Asia and Russia by rail, 2-3 weeks total is common. Tips: ask the exporter for a written schedule with milestones (inspection done, customs cleared, vessel loaded, ETA); track the vessel yourself once you have the container or booking number; and remember Chinese holidays — Chinese New Year and Golden Week can add 1-2 weeks of delay.

Test-drive cars experience much more mechanical wear due to extreme conditions like cold starts and emergency braking compared to regular family cars. We can identify this by tracing whether the first owner was a 4S dealership or the manufacturer. If so, we will reassess its value based on "operational intensity" standards.

Battery health is the single biggest risk when buying a used Chinese EV remotely. Ask for a battery report showing state of health (SOH) and cell voltage balance from the car's BMS or a diagnostic scan — anything below 85% SOH deserves a price reduction or a pass. Check fast-charge counts and whether the pack has warranty remaining; many Chinese EVs carry 8-year/150,000 km battery warranties that may or may not transfer. Verify real-world range from energy consumption history rather than the dashboard estimate. Also confirm the on-board charger works with your country's voltage, and ask whether the connected app and OTA updates will remain accessible in your region before you pay.