Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng has stated it avoided the widespread industry practice of exporting new vehicles as used cars, distancing itself from a grey market approach now facing increasing regulatory scrutiny in overseas markets.
At an industry forum in Shanghai, Tang Zhikun, general manager of Xpeng’s international business centre, addressed the practice, which involves registering newly built vehicles in China before exporting them abroad as second-hand. “We are indeed more fortunate that we were very restrained last year and did not do this,” Tang was quoted as saying by official media outlet The Paper.
China’s automotive sector has reportedly used the “zero-mileage” tactic since 2019 to boost export numbers, particularly to regions such as the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. However, several importing countries are now tightening regulations to curb this method, including through new certification and legal requirements, Tang said.
The statement comes amid strong delivery growth for Xpeng. The company reported 33,525 vehicle deliveries in May, a 230.43% increase compared to the same month a year earlier. While that figure represents a 4.34% decline from April’s 35,045 units, May marked the seventh consecutive month in which Xpeng delivered more than 30,000 vehicles.
Cumulatively, Xpeng has delivered 752,957 vehicles since its inception. For the first five months of 2025, the company has reached 162,578 deliveries—representing a 293.08% surge over the same period in 2023.