Although the automobile trade policy is introduced to play a role to be refined

The release of this "policy" is very necessary to determine the development direction of automobile trade. However, how to implement it and how to affect the existing market still needs to be determined after the introduction of various implementation rules.

On August 10, 2005, after more than two years of deliberation and nearly a year of soliciting opinions, the "Automobile Trade Policy" (hereinafter referred to as the "Policy") was reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Commerce and issued by the Ministry of Commerce. Effective. On August 12, the full text of this policy was published on the website of the Ministry of Commerce.

The officially promulgated "policy" is divided into general principles, policy objectives, automobile sales, second-hand car circulation, auto parts circulation, automobile scrapping and scrapped car recycling, automobile foreign trade, and other 8 chapters and 49 articles. It is an industry policy that regulates the whole process of disposal and circulation. In this sense, its promulgation fills a gap in the field of automobile trade policy in China.

However, unlike last year's "Policy" draft, which triggered a big discussion within the industry, among the public and on the Internet, the "Policy" was officially released, and the response from all walks of life was quite consistent-calm. Perhaps it is the discussion process in the past year and the early implementation of the "Automobile Brand Management Measures" that have made everyone's thinking more objective and rational. Among the scholars, experts and relevant people interviewed by the reporter on this issue, most people think that the provisions of the "policy" only provide a direction for the development of automobile trade, and as for how to implement it and how to affect the existing market, it will not be decided until the detailed rules for implementation are issued.

The policy framework and orientation are obvious.

There is no doubt that the formal introduction of the Automobile Trade Policy is necessary to determine the direction of the development of the automobile trade.

The general provisions of the policy clearly point out that the purpose of formulating this policy is to "establish a unified, open, competitive and orderly automobile market, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of automobile consumers, promote the healthy development of China's automobile industry, promote consumption and expand domestic demand". In fact, due to the long-term traditional thinking of emphasizing production and neglecting circulation, the development of my country's automobile marketing services is very backward, and the automobile circulation industry, including new and second-hand car transactions, is in a weak position. With the rapid development of China's automobile industry, the imbalance between the acceleration of the consumer market and the lag in the field of marketing services is becoming more and more prominent, which brings difficulties to further improve the quality of service to consumers. At the same time, the increasingly severe market competition environment after joining the WTO also makes the domestic automobile circulation field, which is relatively slow and chaotic, urgently needs a guiding, perfect and operable management method to regulate its development.

The formal introduction of the "policy" timely expressed its good will to regulate and promote the development of automobile trade.

The relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Commerce stated that on the one hand, the "Policy" focuses on regulating the order of market entities, establishing and improving the access system; on the other hand, regulating the order of market transactions, prohibiting low-price bidding, price fraud, tax evasion, forced buying and selling, and operating The illegal activities of counterfeit and shoddy auto parts products safeguard public and public interests, protect the legitimate rights and interests of consumers, and guide trading companies to operate honestly and legally. In addition, we should further introduce the competition mechanism, expand the opening up to the outside world, break the regional blockade, and promote the free circulation of automobile commodities throughout the country.

However, if you carefully study the various provisions of the "Policy", it is not difficult to find that the "Policy" is more like a directional, thick-line framework, and does not explain the specific issues, operating principles, conditions and other details in detail. There are no specific rules throughout, and more of them are mentioned in one sentence. "In fact, directional policies are of course important, but for automakers and consumers, operational models, methods, methods and other detailed rules are what everyone pays attention to. This is why the" Policy "was officially introduced but all parties One reason for the calm response." A familiar with the "auto trade policy" from brewing to the introduction of the whole process of the industry said.

Lower threshold for second-hand car transactions

Compared with the draft for soliciting opinions issued by the Ministry of Commerce last year, the further "loosening" of the second-hand car trading policy in the formal "Automobile Trade Policy" has become its change.

In addition to reiterating the current implementation of automobile brand sales services and automatic import licensing management, the policy further relaxes restrictions on second-hand car transactions, encourages powerful foreign investment in automobile trade, and encourages accelerated development and expansion of automobile consumer credit. Compared with the draft for comments issued last year, the official document deletes the stipulation that "the second-hand car trading market shall not directly engage in second-hand car business activities", which means that the direct business functions of many second-hand car trading markets can be continued. The officially announced policy also deleted the provisions of "personnel engaged in second-hand car appraisal and evaluation business activities pass the unified grade examination" and "obtain relevant professional qualification certificates. In addition, the threshold for foreign investors to enter the field of second-hand cars has also been lowered.

"China's second-hand car market is a fairly large market. Once the transaction becomes active, it will not only drive the development of related appraisal and evaluation industries, but also stimulate the sales of new cars, thereby driving the development of the entire Chinese automobile industry." Jia Xinguang, an analyst at China Automotive Industry Consulting and Development Corporation, said in an interview with reporters.

A person from Peugeot Citroen Group in China told reporters that in developed countries, the second-hand car circulation market is very developed, and the volume of second-hand car transactions is more than twice that of new car sales, while the scale of my country's second-hand car market is very small, only new car transactions. 1/4 to 1/3. my country's current car ownership rate is very low, and the lag in the development of the second-hand car market has seriously dragged down the consumption of new cars. Therefore, regulating the second-hand car circulation market not only effectively promotes the circulation of second-hand cars, but also relieves the worries of new car consumption, which is conducive to promoting new car consumption.

Lowering the threshold for second-hand car transactions in this nascent situation can undoubtedly promote the acceleration of second-hand car circulation, so will encouraging foreign investors to enter the second-hand car field have a negative impact on the immature Chinese second-hand car market?

Jia Xinguang believes that there is no need to worry too much about this problem, because there are many differences between the domestic and foreign used car markets. To enter China, foreign businessmen must first be familiar with China's national conditions, which is a big "threshold" for them ".

Of course there are different voices. Wang Ruolan, Director of the Information Division of the Production Materials Market Committee of the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing, believes that whether Japan, the United States or South Korea, after years of development, they have accumulated a lot of experience in the field of second-hand car circulation, and their arrival will more or less Give an impact on the development of used cars in China.

"However, the introduction of the policy has objectively established a fair, just and equal competition environment, which will accept international competition." Wang Ruolan said.

Refinement can play a role

Perhaps it is precisely because the introduction of the "Policy" is more of a guiding clause, and there are no specific implementation rules, so there are different opinions in the industry on its specific implementation effect and its substantive role. Jia Xinguang believes that the "auto trade policy" itself has little substantial impact on the industry. "This policy mainly includes policies on brand sales, used car business and import and export, and in fact there are separate policy provisions in place for these areas, or the main elements of the policy are already known to the industry. The intention of the Ministry of Commerce may be to introduce a programmatic policy that covers all aspects of the auto business."

Another analyst also believes that if the principled provisions in the "Auto Trade Policy" are not clearly explained in time, it will not play its due role. "Only when there are specific provisions for principled things can they be carried out." The person said.

Wang Ruolan also feels the same about this. Regarding Article 16: Support qualified car brand dealers and other business entities to operate second-hand cars and set up branches in different places to carry out chain operations, Wang Ruolan believes that for setting up branches in different places to carry out chain operations, There are no specific rules in terms of policies or the upcoming "Measures for the Administration of Second-hand Car Circulation. "The establishment of chain branches is only mentioned in the" Policy ", and there is no specific embodiment in the" Measures ". Without a specific and operable method, it is easy to appear empty when implemented."

Wang Ruolan also pointed out that there are actually omissions in the marketing methods of second-hand cars in the current "Policy". "In fact, there is finance in the marketing method. Auto manufacturers can buy back the sold cars, and the money can be used as payment for the purchase of new cars. This is also a marketing method, but this is not reflected in the" Policy "and the" Measures, therefore, I think both the Policy and the Measures need to be improved according to the actual situation."