China targets barriers in car aftermarket in bid to boost consumer spending

Vice-minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping, who chaired the symposium, said the ministry would launch pilot reforms in car sales and distribution, encouraging qualified cities to conduct trials to boost consumption in the automotive aftermarket, according to a statement released on Friday.

“The Ministry of Commerce will work with relevant departments to remove restrictive measures in the automotive aftermarket, further unleashing its consumption potential,” the statement said.

Representatives from local governments, enterprises and industry associations attended the meeting, which covered topics including car modification, recreational vehicle camping, motor sports, classic cars and automobile museums.

Sheng noted the reforms were in line with a proposal released in March aimed at boosting consumption and driving economic growth. It called for expanding automobile-related spending, including car modification, leasing and motor sports, while strengthening the used car market through streamlined registration and improved data sharing.

Regional disparities in vehicle emission standards are a major barrier to used car circulation, said Wang Liusheng, chief automobile analyst at China Merchants Securities.