Chinese automakers are now selling brand-new cars as used. The seats are still wrapped in plastic. The odometer reads zero. Here's how it works. Automakers under pressure to hit subsidy-tied sales targets “sell” new cars on paper to affiliated dealerships, claim the EV subsidy, then resell those same cars as “used” at a steep discount, often to markets like Russia and Central Asia. Reuters confirmed in July 2025 that Zeekr, owned by Geely, and Neta booked sales by registering insurance policies