Changan UNI export process, documents and Incoterms

Which Incoterm should be on the invoice?

Use CIF for a first sea shipment, FOB once you have your own forwarder, and CIP for anything moving by rail. FOB and CIF are sea and inland-waterway terms under Incoterms 2020 and are technically meaningless on a rail consignment to Almaty — a careful bank will query one on a letter of credit.

The trap in CIF is the insurance. It only obliges the seller to buy Institute Cargo Clauses (C), a named-perils policy that excludes handling damage, scratching and pilferage — which are the three losses that actually happen to a car. CIP, since the 2020 revision, defaults to all-risks Clauses (A). Ask for Clauses (A) explicitly on any CIF quotation; the premium difference on a single vehicle is a few tens of dollars.

Full definitions are published by the International Chamber of Commerce, and we quote strictly to that text.

What documents does a shipment need?

Ten, though the last one only applies to the UNI-V iDD. Everything in the cost column is passed through at the price we are billed — we do not mark up certification.

How long does the whole thing take?

Between 43 and 80 days from cleared deposit to arrival, depending on the model and the destination. Production is the fixed part; the ocean leg is what varies.

1. Days 0-2. Enquiry, proforma invoice, contract. The PI is issued the same working day the enquiry arrives.
2. Days 2-5. 30% deposit clears. This is when the production slot is booked — not when the PI is signed.
3. Days 5-40. Production. 25-35 days for the 1.5T grades, 30-40 for the 2.0T, 35-45 for the UNI-V iDD because of battery documentation.
4. Days 38-45. Pre-shipment inspection and conformity certification at the Chongqing yard. Balance falls due against the inspection report and a copy B/L.
5. Days 45-50. Inland haulage to Shanghai, Guangzhou or the Chongqing rail terminal, then loading.
6. Days 50-95. Transit. Jebel Ali 18-25 days, Haiphong 8-16, Mombasa 28-38, Lagos 35-45, Callao 32-42, Almaty by rail 12-18.

Where do shipments actually go wrong?

Three places, in order of frequency. First, a missing conformity certificate — PVoC, SONCAP and SABER are all issued in the country of supply and cannot be retrofitted, so a car that arrives without one goes into a penalty-and-destination-inspection process that costs more than the certificate would have. Second, a certificate of origin on the wrong form, which loses a preferential duty rate. Third, colour: allocation is by production batch, so a single-colour order placed late in a batch can add two weeks.

Tell us the destination country on the first message and the first of those disappears. See the market-by-market homologation notes for what your destination requires, or the FAQ for payment terms and inspection detail.

What payment terms apply?

A 30% telegraphic transfer against the signed proforma invoice, with the 70% balance against a copy bill of lading. An irrevocable letter of credit at sight from a prime bank is equally acceptable and is what we recommend above about USD 150,000. We also take 100% TT in advance at a discount. We do not use escrow platforms, open account, or cryptocurrency, and we will not accept payment from a third party whose name is not on the contract.