Why is it crucial to choose the right auto parts supplier?

Overseas procurement of parts for Geely's four major brands often faces three core challenges: First, adaptability deviations. There are significant differences in vehicle versions across different markets (e.g., the European version of Lynk & Co 03 has different configurations from the domestic version), and using non-adaptable parts can easily cause malfunctions after installation. Second, high compliance risks. Parts lacking certifications for the target market (such as ECE in Europe and DOT in the United States) are prone to being detained during customs clearance, resulting in additional port detention fees and fines. Third, unstable supply. Some suppliers have no stock, and delivery cycles can be as long as 30 days or more, leading to delays in repair orders at repair shops. However, choosing the right cross-border foreign trade supplier can solve these problems at the source, reducing procurement costs and improving efficiency.

II. Brand-specific Overseas Procurement Strategies: Precisely Matching Suppliers

Market positioning: Main models include Vision X6, Proton X50/X70 (Geely technology). It has a strong presence in mass markets such as Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The demand for parts is mainly for consumables (three filters, brake pads) and chassis parts, with an emphasis on cost-effectiveness and supply stability.

Supplier selection strategy:

For bulk purchases, choose "group-exclusive foreign trade channels": Hunan Geely Automobile International Trade Co., Ltd., a foreign trade enterprise under the Geely Group, can provide bulk procurement of core components such as engines and transmissions, supporting sea freight (20-25 days from Ningbo Port to Jakarta Port), suitable for dealers with annual procurement volumes exceeding 500,000 yuan.

For small and medium-sized orders, find "regional specialized suppliers": Hunan Jizhongsheng Information Consulting Co., Ltd., which is stationed on Alibaba International Station, supplies original consumables in stock, supports small-batch mixed batches (minimum order of 10 sets), delivers to Southeast Asia in 7-10 days, and can provide technical manuals in Malay and Indonesian.

For emergency procurement, use "international B2B platforms"

Priority is given to merchants with over 100 transactions and a praise rate of over 95% in the past 90 days. Emergency parts can be shipped by air (3-5 days to major cities in Southeast Asia).

Market positioning: Mainly focuses on high-end new energy vehicles such as Zeekr 001/007/X, targeting the European and Thai markets. The demand for parts is concentrated on power batteries, air suspensions, and high-performance motors, which need to comply with European ECE R100 (battery safety) and ECE R90 (brake system) certifications.

Supplier selection strategy:

For core components, connect with "international top suppliers": Germany's Continental VDO (air suspension), Nidec of Japan (motors). Purchases can be made through their overseas subsidiaries, such as Continental VDO's German headquarters, which provides original factory quality assurance (air suspension: 2 years / 60,000 kilometers), with shipments from European local warehouses and delivery within 48 hours.

For battery procurement, choose "global supporting enterprises": CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited), whose overseas subsidiaries cover Europe and Southeast Asia, supplying ternary lithium batteries adapted to Zeekr, supporting international certifications such as UN38.3 and IEC 62133. Bulk purchases can enjoy a 10%-15% discount, with a delivery cycle of 15-20 days.

For logistics support, find "cross-border specialized service providers": Choose enterprises that can provide "China-Europe Railway Express + overseas warehouse" services, such as Cainiao International. Zeekr parts depart from Chongqing, reach the Malaszewicze warehouse in Poland in 12-15 days, and then are distributed to various European countries, with logistics costs 40% lower than air freight.

Market positioning: Models are mainly Lynk & Co 02/03/05, with Europe (Sweden, the Netherlands) and the Middle East (United Arab Emirates) as core markets. Parts need to balance performance (such as four-wheel drive systems) and design (LED headlights), and comply with the European Euro NCAP safety certification.

Supplier selection strategy:

For performance components, choose "international professional suppliers": BorgWarner of the United States (four-wheel drive systems), Valeo of France (LED headlights). Purchases can be made through their authorized agents, such as Valeo's European agents in France, which provide LED headlights adapted to Lynk & Co 03, support free sample testing, and accept bulk orders only after confirming adaptability.

For the Middle East market, find "localized service providers": Shanghai Lynk & Co Automobile Technology Co., Ltd., which has been deeply involved in the Saudi market for 15 years, with a warehouse in Riyadh, supplying commonly used Lynk & Co parts (such as bumpers, car screens) in stock, with local delivery within 24 hours and Arabic after-sales support.

Connect with "source factories" at exhibitions: Participate in the Shanghai International Auto Parts Exhibition to connect with source factories of Lynk & Co parts on-site, such as Ningbo Huaxiang Electronics (specializing in Lynk & Co interior parts), which can provide customized production with a minimum order quantity of 50 sets, and can simultaneously provide ECE certification documents for exports to Europe.

Market positioning: Mainly focuses on intelligent electric vehicles such as Jiyue 07,布局 in Southeast Asia and the Middle East markets. The demand for parts focuses on intelligent cockpits (central control screens) and electronic control systems (VCU vehicle controllers), which need to provide intelligent component testing reports.

Supplier selection strategy:

For intelligent components, find "domestic high-tech cross-border enterprises": Hechang Polymer, which supplies high-gloss alloy components for Jiyue's intelligent cockpits, has passed SGS testing, supports RoHS environmental certification, has a delivery cycle of 10-12 days for the Southeast Asian market, and can provide on-site technical guidance for installation.

For trade services, choose "brand-related channels": Jiyue (Hainan) Cross-border E-commerce Co., Ltd., which provides import and export agency services, assists in handling customs declaration and clearance documents for Jiyue parts exports, especially excels in compliance procedures in Southeast Asian markets (such as Malaysia and Indonesia), and can reduce customs clearance time by 30%.

For certification support, find "third-party service providers": Suppliers cooperating with SGS and CCIC, such as Shenzhen CCIC Certification Co., Ltd., which can provide internationally recognized testing reports for Jiyue's electronic control systems, helping parts quickly pass customs inspection in target markets.

III. Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls in the Entire Process of Overseas Procurement: From Screening to Delivery

Step 1: Check "qualification strength". Require suppliers to provide business licenses, brand authorization certificates (such as Geely series brand authorization), target market certification documents (such as European ECE, American DOT). Core components need to additionally provide ISO 9001 quality system certification. The authenticity of certifications can be verified through official channels (such as the ECE official website).

Step 2: Test "supply soft power". Conduct small-batch trial procurement (such as purchasing 10-20 sets of vulnerable parts) to test the adaptability of the parts (whether the installation fits, whether the performance meets the standards), delivery timeliness (whether the goods arrive as agreed), and after-sales response (whether there is a reply within 24 hours after feedback of problems).

Step 3: Compare "comprehensive costs". Not only compare the unit price of parts, but also calculate logistics costs (cost differences between sea freight/air freight/China-Europe Railway Express), tariffs (such as some Southeast Asian countries impose 10%-15% tariffs on auto parts), and customs clearance fees. Choose suppliers with "optimal total cost" rather than "lowest unit price".

2. Order Signing: 4 Key Clauses Must Be Clarified

Parts information: Accurately mark the model year (such as Zeekr 001 2024 model), part model (such as OE code), and quantity to avoid "wrong model delivery".

Certification and quality: Agree on the certification standards that the parts must comply with (such as European ECE R90), and clarify the handling methods for quality problems (such as free return and exchange within 7 days, with the supplier bearing the freight).

3. Logistics and Customs Clearance: 2 Core Links Should Not Be Ignored

Document preparation: Ensure that the commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, and certification certificate are "consistent in the four documents". The product name must completely match the actual product (such as "Zeekr 001 power battery" cannot be abbreviated as "battery") to avoid customs detention due to inconsistent documents.

Logistics selection: For heavy items (such as engine blocks), choose sea freight, which has low cost but long timeliness; for small items (such as sensors), choose air freight, which is suitable for urgent needs; for new energy parts (such as batteries), priority is given to China-Europe Railway Express, which balances timeliness and cost. At the same time, it is necessary to confirm in advance whether the logistics provider has the qualification for dangerous goods transportation.

4. After-sales Guarantee: 1 Mechanism to Prevent Risks

Establish a "cross-border after-sales linkage" mechanism: Agree with the supplier that if quality problems occur after the parts are installed, they can be handled through "overseas warehouse temporary storage + centralized return and exchange". For example, unqualified parts are returned centrally every quarter, and the supplier will reissue new parts within 10 days after receipt to reduce multiple logistics costs.

IV. Conclusion: Seize the Globalization Dividends of Geely Series and Achieve 3 "Precisions"

With the continuous increase in the overseas market share of Geely, Zeekr, Lynk & Co, and Jiyue, the demand for overseas procurement will continue to grow. To stand out in procurement, it is necessary to achieve 3 "precisions": first, precise brand matching, selecting suitable suppliers according to the market positioning of each brand; second, precise transmission of demand, clarifying the requirements for part models, certifications, and timeliness; third, precise risk prevention and control, controlling the entire process from qualification verification to after-sales guarantee. Choosing the right supplier can not only reduce procurement costs but also improve maintenance efficiency and customer satisfaction, gaining an advantage in overseas market competition.

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