Index
Why Chinese cars are arriving in the used car market
The models that are appearing most in the second-hand market
Real opportunities for the dealership
The risks that many fail to calculate properly
The spare parts and workshop problem
How to appraise a used Chinese car
The buyer profile looking for these brands
Dealcar and stock management with emerging brands
Frequently asked questions
Why Chinese cars are arriving in the used car market
Between 2022 and 2025, sales of Chinese brand vehicles in Spain grew significantly. Brands like MG, BYD, Nio, Omoda, Jaecoo, Leapmotor, and Xpeng went from being practically unknown to having an active presence in official dealerships and online sales platforms.
The result is that, three years after that launch, the first cars from these brands bought by individuals or companies are starting to reach the second-hand market. These are vehicles between 1 and 4 years old, with between 20,000 and 80,000 kilometres, which their owners are selling for the usual reasons: changing vehicles, needing liquidity, or dissatisfaction with the model.
For the used car dealership, this creates a new situation: cars from brands that did not exist in the Spanish market three years ago and about which there is little consolidated information regarding depreciation, reliability, and second-hand demand are starting to appear in the stock supply.
The models that are appearing most in the second-hand market
MG is by far the Chinese brand with the greatest presence in the Spanish used car market. The MG ZS, MG4, and MG5 are the models with the most units on the road in Spain, which is starting to generate a second-hand market with some liquidity. The diesel or petrol version of the MG ZS enjoys reasonable demand because many buyers are familiar with it and its used price is competitive. The electric MG4 is generating more interest among buyers looking for an electric vehicle at an affordable price.
Read also how Euro 7 regulations and LEZs affect the used car market.
BYD is growing fast in new sales but still has few units in the used car market due to its more recent introduction. The first Atto 3 and Seal models are starting to appear on portals at prices reflecting a significant depreciation compared to the original purchase price.
Omoda and Jaecoo, brands belonging to the Chery group, have a growing presence in new sales but still little traceability in the second-hand market due to their recent arrival.
Real opportunities for the dealership
The main opportunity is the entry price. Some 2- or 3-year-old Chinese cars are depreciating considerably, partly because the used car market does not yet have enough price reference and partly because many original buyers sell them without knowing well what price to ask. A dealership that knows the real value of these vehicles can buy them from individuals with a higher margin than in more established brands.
Check how to calculate gross and net margins on used cars.
The used buyer looking for an electric car at an affordable price is another angle of opportunity. A 2-year-old MG4 with 35,000 km can be between 16,000 and 19,000 euros in the used car market, compared to 28,000 or more when brand new. For buyers who want a ZERO emissions label and electric mobility without the outlay of a used European or Korean electric vehicle with fewer kilometres, this difference is attractive.
The scarcity of organised supply is also a timely opportunity. Portals have few listings for these brands with good presentation. A dealership that publishes well-prepared adverts for used Chinese models may face less direct competition than in the European SUV segments, where there are hundreds of similar listings.
The risks that many fail to calculate properly
Depreciation is the most difficult risk to manage. There is not enough market history to know with reliability how these vehicles will depreciate in the next 12 or 24 months. A Chinese brand that loses market share in new sales, has image problems, or is absorbed by another, can abruptly drag down the value of that brand's used cars.
Read also which car brands rotate fastest in a dealership.
The official warranty is another risk point. Many Chinese brands offer 7-year warranties on new cars, which in theory benefits the used car buyer. However, if the official dealer network of that brand in Spain is reduced (something that has already happened with some brands that entered with big plans and then scaled back their presence), the buyer may be left without official service to use that warranty. And the dealership that sold the car could get dragged into the claim.
Buyer perception is also a risk. There is a segment of the market that still shows resistance to buying Chinese brands, especially in the over 20,000 euro segment. This rejection can prolong the rotation of these vehicles longer than expected.
The problem of the spare parts and workshops
This is the most concrete and hardest risk to manage. Chinese brands with an official network in Spain have their own or contracted workshops for warranty work, but that network can be limited depending on the area. Outside of major cities, finding an official BYD, Omoda, or Xpeng workshop might require travelling 50 or 100 kilometres.
Also check how extended warranty works as coverage for the used car buyer.
Spare parts are the other issue. For established European or Japanese brands, spare parts are available in the open market with delivery times of 24 to 48 hours. For recent Chinese brands, many spare parts are only available through the brand's official channels, with lead times that can be days or weeks if they have to be imported. This makes any repair more expensive and time-consuming.
For the dealership, this means that before adding a car from a less-established Chinese brand into stock, it is advisable to check the availability of spare parts and the proximity of official or specialised workshops. A customer who buys a car and then cannot find a workshop to repair it will claim from the dealer, even if the problem is structural to the manufacturer.
How to appraise a used Chinese car
Appraising these vehicles is more difficult than established brands because the usual appraisal tools (Eurotax, Ganvam, the portals themselves) have less historical data on actual transactions. The prices they return may be outdated compared to the real market.
The most reliable method at the moment is direct comparison on active portals: searching coches.net, AutoScout24, and Wallapop for cars of the same model, year, and similar mileage, and using those prices as a benchmark. This is what the market does, and it is what the buyer will use to validate your price.
Buying with a larger margin than usual is prudent while there is not enough price history to predict the trend. If for a European SUV you work with a gross margin of between 1,500 and 2,500 euros, in a Chinese car from a less established brand, adding an additional 500 or 700 euros as a depreciation cushion is reasonable coverage against uncertainty.
The buyer profile looking for these brands
The buyer of used Chinese cars has a fairly well-defined profile. It is someone with a tight budget who wants more car for less money and does not have a strong emotional bond with traditional European or Japanese brands. In the electric segment, it is someone who wants a ZERO emissions label or needs the car to drive in restricted access zones, and who cannot or does not want to spend 25,000 euros or more on an electric vehicle from an established brand.
This buyer profile is usually more price-sensitive and compares more options before deciding. The sales process can be somewhat longer, and questions about warranty, workshops, and spare parts will crop up in virtually every conversation. Having ready answers for those questions reduces closing friction.
Dealcar and stock management with emerging brands
Managing stock with diverse brands, including emerging Chinese brands, requires precise control of the days in stock for each vehicle and the actual margin per transaction. Cars with higher market uncertainty benefit the most from daily tracking of rotation to act quickly if demand does not respond as expected.
From Dealcar, you can set up alerts for days in stock per vehicle and see in real time which cars are above your rotation threshold, regardless of the brand. If you want to see how it works, request a demo at dealcar.io.
Frequently asked questions
Do Chinese cars have a warranty in the second-hand market?
It depends on the age of the vehicle. Chinese brands usually offer warranties between 5 and 7 years from the first registration. A 2-year-old car may still have 3 to 5 years of official manufacturer warranty, which is a relevant selling point. The problem is that this warranty requires the intervention of an official workshop of the brand, whose network may be limited in some areas.
Is it advisable to specialise in used Chinese cars?
It is still too early to specialise exclusively in this category, because the volume of units available in the used car market is still low and the demand is not fully consolidated. It makes more sense to incorporate them as a part of the stock mix when good buying opportunities arise, rather than as the business core. In 2 or 3 years, when there is more volume and more depreciation data, the situation may change.
Do used Chinese cars sell well on portals?
It depends on the model and the price. The MG ZS and MG4 have active searches on portals and sell reasonably well if the price is adjusted. Less known brands like Omoda, Jaecoo, or Xpeng have less specific search traffic and may take longer to sell. The key is to publish with good presentation and a price that reflects current market reality, not the price paid by the first owner.
What about insurance for a used Chinese car?
The main insurance companies (Mapfre, Allianz, AXA, Mutua) insure cars from Chinese brands approved in Spain without special restrictions. The price of the insurance depends on the model, power, and driver profile, just like any other car. Some Chinese electric models may have slightly higher premiums than European equivalents with some companies, but it is not a significant barrier for the buyer.
Index
Why Chinese cars are arriving in the used car market
The models that are appearing most in the second-hand market
Real opportunities for the dealership
The risks that many fail to calculate properly
The spare parts and workshop problem
How to appraise a used Chinese car
The buyer profile looking for these brands
Dealcar and stock management with emerging brands
Frequently asked questions
Why Chinese cars are arriving in the used car market
Between 2022 and 2025, sales of Chinese brand vehicles in Spain grew significantly. Brands like MG, BYD, Nio, Omoda, Jaecoo, Leapmotor, and Xpeng went from being practically unknown to having an active presence in official dealerships and online sales platforms.
The result is that, three years after that launch, the first cars from these brands bought by individuals or companies are starting to reach the second-hand market. These are vehicles between 1 and 4 years old, with between 20,000 and 80,000 kilometres, which their owners are selling for the usual reasons: changing vehicles, needing liquidity, or dissatisfaction with the model.
For the used car dealership, this creates a new situation: cars from brands that did not exist in the Spanish market three years ago and about which there is little consolidated information regarding depreciation, reliability, and second-hand demand are starting to appear in the stock supply.
The models that are appearing most in the second-hand market
MG is by far the Chinese brand with the greatest presence in the Spanish used car market. The MG ZS, MG4, and MG5 are the models with the most units on the road in Spain, which is starting to generate a second-hand market with some liquidity. The diesel or petrol version of the MG ZS enjoys reasonable demand because many buyers are familiar with it and its used price is competitive. The electric MG4 is generating more interest among buyers looking for an electric vehicle at an affordable price.
Read also how Euro 7 regulations and LEZs affect the used car market.
BYD is growing fast in new sales but still has few units in the used car market due to its more recent introduction. The first Atto 3 and Seal models are starting to appear on portals at prices reflecting a significant depreciation compared to the original purchase price.
Omoda and Jaecoo, brands belonging to the Chery group, have a growing presence in new sales but still little traceability in the second-hand market due to their recent arrival.
Real opportunities for the dealership
The main opportunity is the entry price. Some 2- or 3-year-old Chinese cars are depreciating considerably, partly because the used car market does not yet have enough price reference and partly because many original buyers sell them without knowing well what price to ask. A dealership that knows the real value of these vehicles can buy them from individuals with a higher margin than in more established brands.
Check how to calculate gross and net margins on used cars.
The used buyer looking for an electric car at an affordable price is another angle of opportunity. A 2-year-old MG4 with 35,000 km can be between 16,000 and 19,000 euros in the used car market, compared to 28,000 or more when brand new. For buyers who want a ZERO emissions label and electric mobility without the outlay of a used European or Korean electric vehicle with fewer kilometres, this difference is attractive.
The scarcity of organised supply is also a timely opportunity. Portals have few listings for these brands with good presentation. A dealership that publishes well-prepared adverts for used Chinese models may face less direct competition than in the European SUV segments, where there are hundreds of similar listings.
The risks that many fail to calculate properly
Depreciation is the most difficult risk to manage. There is not enough market history to know with reliability how these vehicles will depreciate in the next 12 or 24 months. A Chinese brand that loses market share in new sales, has image problems, or is absorbed by another, can abruptly drag down the value of that brand's used cars.
Read also which car brands rotate fastest in a dealership.
The official warranty is another risk point. Many Chinese brands offer 7-year warranties on new cars, which in theory benefits the used car buyer. However, if the official dealer network of that brand in Spain is reduced (something that has already happened with some brands that entered with big plans and then scaled back their presence), the buyer may be left without official service to use that warranty. And the dealership that sold the car could get dragged into the claim.
Buyer perception is also a risk. There is a segment of the market that still shows resistance to buying Chinese brands, especially in the over 20,000 euro segment. This rejection can prolong the rotation of these vehicles longer than expected.
The problem of the spare parts and workshops
This is the most concrete and hardest risk to manage. Chinese brands with an official network in Spain have their own or contracted workshops for warranty work, but that network can be limited depending on the area. Outside of major cities, finding an official BYD, Omoda, or Xpeng workshop might require travelling 50 or 100 kilometres.
Also check how extended warranty works as coverage for the used car buyer.
Spare parts are the other issue. For established European or Japanese brands, spare parts are available in the open market with delivery times of 24 to 48 hours. For recent Chinese brands, many spare parts are only available through the brand's official channels, with lead times that can be days or weeks if they have to be imported. This makes any repair more expensive and time-consuming.
For the dealership, this means that before adding a car from a less-established Chinese brand into stock, it is advisable to check the availability of spare parts and the proximity of official or specialised workshops. A customer who buys a car and then cannot find a workshop to repair it will claim from the dealer, even if the problem is structural to the manufacturer.
How to appraise a used Chinese car
Appraising these vehicles is more difficult than established brands because the usual appraisal tools (Eurotax, Ganvam, the portals themselves) have less historical data on actual transactions. The prices they return may be outdated compared to the real market.
The most reliable method at the moment is direct comparison on active portals: searching coches.net, AutoScout24, and Wallapop for cars of the same model, year, and similar mileage, and using those prices as a benchmark. This is what the market does, and it is what the buyer will use to validate your price.
Buying with a larger margin than usual is prudent while there is not enough price history to predict the trend. If for a European SUV you work with a gross margin of between 1,500 and 2,500 euros, in a Chinese car from a less established brand, adding an additional 500 or 700 euros as a depreciation cushion is reasonable coverage against uncertainty.
The buyer profile looking for these brands
The buyer of used Chinese cars has a fairly well-defined profile. It is someone with a tight budget who wants more car for less money and does not have a strong emotional bond with traditional European or Japanese brands. In the electric segment, it is someone who wants a ZERO emissions label or needs the car to drive in restricted access zones, and who cannot or does not want to spend 25,000 euros or more on an electric vehicle from an established brand.
This buyer profile is usually more price-sensitive and compares more options before deciding. The sales process can be somewhat longer, and questions about warranty, workshops, and spare parts will crop up in virtually every conversation. Having ready answers for those questions reduces closing friction.
Dealcar and stock management with emerging brands
Managing stock with diverse brands, including emerging Chinese brands, requires precise control of the days in stock for each vehicle and the actual margin per transaction. Cars with higher market uncertainty benefit the most from daily tracking of rotation to act quickly if demand does not respond as expected.
From Dealcar, you can set up alerts for days in stock per vehicle and see in real time which cars are above your rotation threshold, regardless of the brand. If you want to see how it works, request a demo at dealcar.io.
Frequently asked questions
Do Chinese cars have a warranty in the second-hand market?
It depends on the age of the vehicle. Chinese brands usually offer warranties between 5 and 7 years from the first registration. A 2-year-old car may still have 3 to 5 years of official manufacturer warranty, which is a relevant selling point. The problem is that this warranty requires the intervention of an official workshop of the brand, whose network may be limited in some areas.
Is it advisable to specialise in used Chinese cars?
It is still too early to specialise exclusively in this category, because the volume of units available in the used car market is still low and the demand is not fully consolidated. It makes more sense to incorporate them as a part of the stock mix when good buying opportunities arise, rather than as the business core. In 2 or 3 years, when there is more volume and more depreciation data, the situation may change.
Do used Chinese cars sell well on portals?
It depends on the model and the price. The MG ZS and MG4 have active searches on portals and sell reasonably well if the price is adjusted. Less known brands like Omoda, Jaecoo, or Xpeng have less specific search traffic and may take longer to sell. The key is to publish with good presentation and a price that reflects current market reality, not the price paid by the first owner.
What about insurance for a used Chinese car?
The main insurance companies (Mapfre, Allianz, AXA, Mutua) insure cars from Chinese brands approved in Spain without special restrictions. The price of the insurance depends on the model, power, and driver profile, just like any other car. Some Chinese electric models may have slightly higher premiums than European equivalents with some companies, but it is not a significant barrier for the buyer.
