Zeekr Responds to 'Zero Kilometer Used Car' Controversy

On July 20, in response to recent market doubts regarding the sale of 'zero kilometer used cars', Zeekr issued a clarification statement. After investigation, the company stated that the vehicles involved in media reports are all exhibition cars that are available for normal sale. To ensure safety during the exhibition period, these display vehicles were insured but have never been issued retail invoices, nor have they been registered or licensed at any vehicle management office, meaning their legal status remains that of unregistered brand new vehicles. Zeekr also mentioned that since exhibition cars typically have a storage age of 3-5 months, they will be sold at a discount based on their display history or storage duration. Consumers who purchase these vehicles will enjoy all rights of a first-owner of a new car. Recently, the topic of Zeekr's 'zero kilometer used cars' being sold to consumers has gained significant traction in the industry. 'Zero kilometer used cars' refer to vehicles that have completed registration procedures and are nominally classified as 'used cars', but have very low or even zero mileage. This phenomenon arises from the increasingly competitive domestic market, where car manufacturers or dealers transfer new cars to enterprises or individuals to meet sales targets, and then reintroduce them to the market as used cars at lower prices. At the end of May this year, Great Wall Motors Chairman Wei Jianjun publicly criticized the bizarre phenomenon of 'zero kilometer used cars', stating, 'New cars that have just been registered are reintroduced to the market as used cars. There are thousands of sellers on platforms like Dongche Di and Guazi used cars.' Some dealer management have also stated that the 'zero kilometer used car' situation is quite normal in the country, especially in the electric vehicle sector. In response, the Ministry of Commerce has convened discussions with relevant industry organizations to regulate and rectify this market disorder and promote the healthy and orderly development of the used car market. Not only in the domestic market, one sales route for 'zero kilometer used cars' is export to overseas markets. Tang Zhikun, General Manager of XPeng Motors' International Business Center, mentioned during the 2025 Global New Energy Vehicle Cooperation Development Forum in Shanghai that a significant number of cars are exported using the 'zero kilometer used car' model, targeting regions such as the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia, which can contribute to substantial sales. Recently, the issue of 'zero kilometer used cars' has again come under scrutiny. While Zeekr has responded to market doubts by clarifying that these are exhibition cars, some opinions remain skeptical, with concerns raised about whether exhibition cars are usually insured and complaints from some Zeekr owners about the online purchasing process through third-party companies at direct sales stores, which exceeds the official range of exhibition cars. In response, Zeekr stated in their clarification that they have established a special team to investigate and improve the issues mentioned in the media reports regarding certain terminal sales phenomena. Journalists have interviewed several management personnel from car dealerships to clarify the differences between exhibition cars and 'zero kilometer used cars.' The main difference is whether the vehicle has been registered. Exhibition cars have not been registered, and the ownership remains with the dealer, while 'zero kilometer used cars' are second-hand vehicles that have gone through initial sales and registration, with ownership having previously belonged to an individual or enterprise. Regarding insurance, 'zero kilometer used cars' are typically insured according to new vehicle registration procedures, while dealers generally do not insure exhibition cars, although practices may vary. Consumers can generally distinguish between exhibition cars and 'zero kilometer used cars' as dealerships usually inform customers about the vehicle's status, such as whether it is new, an exhibition car, or a used car. 'Zero kilometer used cars' are mostly sold through used car dealers, while 4S stores primarily sell new cars. Additionally, the registration certificate for 'zero kilometer used cars' will clearly indicate the 'first registration date' and 'original owner information' (individual or enterprise), and the transfer registration page will show the number of 'transfer registrations' (at least once).