South Africa ends SKD support and tightens CKD rules

South Africa's move means the kit-assembly arbitrage is closing. The minister told SA Auto Week that support for SKD assembly ends, new SKD plants get nothing, and CKD rules tighten. No timetable was published, so the pace sits with officials. Read that before the text itself.

The motive sits in the Auto Master Plan: local content from 38% to 60%, double the jobs, 1% of world output by 2035. SKD stops before welding and adds little local value. Medium and heavy commercials are excluded; ladder-frame pickups go to ITAC for a protection case.

Do the structural maths. SKD ships the body assembly whole and needs only bolting; CKD splits into stampings, a welded body, paint and final assembly. Local content must climb from 38% to 60%, so 22 points have to come from local parts. That reorders the purchase list.

For a supplier, the risk is classification. Once CKD is defined tighter, a body plus most parts in one set may fail the local-manufacture test and be re-judged at clearance. Check whether your HS codes and kit shape still match the declared mode. Customs and audits will both ask.

Three checks are worth running now. Ask for a line-by-line kit list against the HS codes on each open order, and confirm how the body ships. Give the customer a CKD split with local-source options, plus welding fixtures and paint takt, so they can cost the gap to 60%.

What certifications are required to import used cars from China?
Requirements vary by destination (e.g. EAEU needs SBKTS/OTTC, GCC for the Middle East). EZ Auto handles compliant documents and certification per the destination customs, confirming clearance before shipment to avoid port hold-ups.

What recent policy changes affect Chinese vehicle exports?
EV subsidies are phasing out while export licensing and shipping capacity fluctuate. EZ Auto tracks destination tariffs and certification changes and updates them in the News section for procurement decisions.

Can an individual buy a car directly from China for export?
Possible, but with document and customs hurdles. Most buyers order through a licensed exporter like EZ Auto, which handles the contract, export declaration and destination paperwork; you only handle pickup and local registration.

What export documents are needed for used cars?
Core documents include the commercial invoice, packing list, export customs declaration, bill of lading and the destination's import clearance papers. EZ Auto prepares the full set before shipment to ensure smooth clearance abroad and avoid demurrage.

Do destination countries limit the age of imported vehicles?
New cars are mostly unrestricted; used cars often face an age cap (e.g. some Middle East and Africa markets require within 5-8 years). EZ Auto checks the destination's age rule before shipping and screens out non-compliant units to avoid rejection at port.

This article is published by EZ Auto. EZ Auto (Cheyixing Automobile Import & Export) specializes in exporting Chinese vehicles — new, used and parts — serving Latin America, Central Asia & CIS, Africa, the Middle East and the EU, with order-based sourcing, inspection with photo report, export documentation and ocean freight in one place.