Want to Import a BMW G650 GS from the US

[bigdamo]

Having set up a number of wholly foreign-owned enterprises in China in the past decade, I can say that there's NEVER been any provision for importing vehicles by such companies. There was, and may still be, a provision allowing such companies to obtain one or two plates for company vehicles outside of the current auction system. But since Beijing's stupid and toxic decision to make carmaking a "pillar industry of the economy" back in mid-1990s (under JZM), the assumption has been that, with rare exceptions, vehicles purchased by WFOEs would be made in China.

cheers
Euphonius

This used to amuse me when I asked why doesn't the "government" purchase" made in China" vehicles.All answers were most amusing.

[ChinaV]

Having set up a number of wholly foreign-owned enterprises in China in the past decade, I can say that there's NEVER been any provision for importing vehicles by such companies.

Yes there has, you just didn't set them up in the correct place.

I verified with FESCO today that rep offices and WOFE's in Tianjin are entitled to import one car. No motorcycles, pickup trucks, vans, etc. They told me that Tianjin was the last and only place in China this can be done.

BTW nice of laoshi19 to add so much to the forum.

Cheers!
ChinaV

[TB-Racing]

rep offices and WOFE's in Tianjin are entitled to import one car. No motorcycles, pickup trucks, vans, etc. They told me that Tianjin was the last and only place in China this can be done.

did they specify what part / area of Tianjin by any chance as they got a few "special economic zones" and "bonded manufacturing / processing zones" and whatnot up in Tianjin.
got a few mates up there in Tianjin in the manufacturing and processing business.

yeah, finally some interessting issues on MCM.....


edit and add on as previouslu posted in wrong thread....

the China tax free vehicle import rumours (foreign passport holders / chinese returnees) going around once in a while and heard them in different variations through the years.
would be very-very surprised if they allow tax free motor-vehicle import to start all over again, if they do ~ lets rock n' roll once again with vehicle imports and foreign passport shuffling for the vehicle import quotas.

the 90's in China, interesting great old times and the last motor-vehicle we imported in May 98 was a brand-new red 1998 Harley-Davidson FXD Dyna Super Glide.
the HD went through a few hands in Shanghai over the years and is now with a good mate in Germany as he customised the bike to his liking and exported three motorbikes tax free (HD, CJ, Dax) with his personal belongings three years ago.

in the old days some free license plates (car, truck, bike) were given to JV / WFOE companies and the number of plates was somehow interlinked with the amount of invested foreign capital (we even had black plates on delivery trucks in the 90's).
had 20+ Shanghai "A" motorcycle plates in circulation on CJ's (mates bikes) in the 90's but the Shanghai government and vehicle management bureau changed the laws and regulations and we lost most of them over night, we had a few upset bike owners.

haven't heard anything in terms of free vehicle imports for WFOE / JV companies since the start of the 2000's and they closed all the loop holes that made legal vehicle import easy and possible in the 90's.
same goes for black license plates, they stopped issuing them a few years ago and they are really fading away (execpt foreign services like consulates / embassies) or around on some very old cars as they are not transferrable anymore to my knowledge.

[ChinaV]

did they specify what part / area of Tianjin by any chance as they got a few "special economic zones" and "bonded manufacturing / processing zones" and whatnot up in Tianjin.

They didn't mention anything, and they failed to provide any kind of document showing how to do it. If your mates have rep offices or WOFE's there, might be worth checking into. We are in the process of closing our TJ office, so I don't have anyone there to look into it.

Cheers!
ChinaV

[TB-Racing]

They didn't mention anything, and they failed to provide any kind of document showing how to do it. If your mates have rep offices or WOFE's there

I'll have a word with the guys up in TJ and will feedback. Not sure what type / status of company they are operating under but they do some bonded area food processing for export only.

Just think about temporary motor-vehicle import for foreign passport holders, we did that in the 80's in Turkey, special temp. import and the motor-vehicles were registered with special tax free plates and the the authorities stamped the vehicle details (VIN, etc) in our passports. Only set-back, every time we flew out we had to park the motor-vehicles at a special bonded security custom zone at the Istanbul airport to obtain a special permit (took 10 min. mostly after dropping vehicles off), good one - no taxi needed once we returned to Istanbul as the vehicles were right there....
Had a Honda XR600R, Ford Bronco (V8), sold both easily to my Turkish colleagues and they had to pay all the relevant motor-vehicle import tax, still cheaper for them compared to import vehicles back than...

[laoshi19]

Hi ChinaV
Sorry you were offended that I didn't reply. I appreciated the comments and am still trying to learn about the process including using this blog. I'll try and post a general reply.

Since I'm really only interested in a BMW I didn't reply to the suggestion about a Jialing.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Cheers
Laoshi19

[laoshi19]

Thanks everyone for all of your comments. I'm trying to get in to see the local customs chief here in Yunnan. I need to get some first hand answers about this from someone who has the power to approve or disapprove the importation. Things continue to change rapidly in China.

It seems that most people think tax free import by legal laowai is difficult to impossible. I'm not in favor of doing any side payments so this may be a losing proposition but the cost of a brand new BMW in Oregon (no sales tax!) is about $9700. That is half the cost of a new F800 here and I have to add the cost of transport to Yunnan and local licensing (which should be minimal).

Personally I prefer a single cylinder having ridden extensively in South America for many years and through many countries there.

I met someone from here who bought a used BMW in Shanghai and licensed it here with no trouble. She is with a group that is now on its way to the BMW 90th birthday party in Munich and they will finish in Portugal! 16,000 kilometers!

Thanks for your comments and suggestions. I'll let you know what I find out here.
Laoshi19

[ChinaV]

Laoshi19, it's nice to see you back and contributing. I know that you have your heart set on something, but this is China and she's known for breaking many hearts. When you go through all the threads and various China bikes people are riding, you will start to realise that 99% of the people riding Chinese bikes are doing it because we have to, not because we want to. I know you're not happy with the Jialing JH600, but you may want to reconscider when you look at all the factors and expenses of owning a BMW in China. I sold by BMW F650 last year, and can honestly say that it wasn't a huge step above the JH600. Think of all the added hassle with the BMW. Where will you service it? How are you going to get all the parts needed for maintenance etc. Think of how attractive a real BMW is to the thieves here.

Good luck with whatever you decide and be sure to share some rides with us.

Cheers!
ChinaV

[laoshi19]

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ChinaV,
I've lived in 5 countries and traveled to 43 so far. I've spent 9 years living in countries outside the US. I've been in more than 20 major cities in China, including Harbin, Urumqi and too many others in the areas most people know. I don't think I know very much about China but maybe I know a little. I know what a BMW is and why I want one. I am not and never want to be one of the 99%. And in Yunnan, bike thefts of BMW's are, as you can imagine, almost non-existent, partly because there are so few here and partly because it's just not Shanghai, Beijing or Guangzhou. Besides that, I'm careful. Where I will go are the back roads and villages far from regular thieves you know of. As for repairs, BMW's are more reliable than most and I'm a fair mechanic so I'll take my chances. That is one of the reasons I want a thumper. I rode one for 20 years and never had it fail. Besides, it's the best bike in the world!
Time will tell if I can find one at a price I can afford.
Laoshi19
Hope you can see the pictures I tried to attach. They are from Yuenyang, Yunnan

[SabineHartmann]

Today I figured out, you need at last 140.000 to buy a legal F700GS, plated in BJ, shipped to your town in China. Then to take care to switch the BJ registration to your place.
You cannot afford? Forget your dream for a time being until you can