Quick answer: the two are not really competing on the same terms. BE FORWARD is the larger and far more established business — founded in 2004, it exported roughly 190,000 vehicles in 2025 to more than 200 countries, and it is the realistic choice if you need right-hand-drive stock or Japanese petrol models. Xin Che Hang is a Beijing-based exporter of China-sourced vehicles, registered with China's Ministry of Commerce for used-car export; it is the better fit if you want new-energy vehicles, left-hand-drive stock, or the lowest FOB price, and it accepts orders from a single unit with mixed-model container loads.
Buyers searching this comparison are usually trying to answer a simpler question: should I source my next container from Japan or from China? That question resolves itself once you know two things about your own market — which side of the road it drives on, and whether the vehicles you sell are petrol or electric. Almost everything else follows from those.
This page compares the two companies on the dimensions that change your landed cost and risk: source country, stock mix, pricing, inspection, payment, shipping and drive-side availability. Information about BE FORWARD is taken from its published company profile and corporate site; figures change, so confirm anything you intend to rely on directly with them.
The comparison table
| Dimension | Xin Che Hang | BE FORWARD |
|---|---|---|
| Source country | China | Japan |
| Founded | 2022 (Beijing) | 2004 (Tokyo) |
| Annual export volume | Not published | ~190,000 vehicles (2025) |
| Destination coverage | 30+ countries | 200+ countries and regions |
| Stock mix | Chinese-brand petrol, hybrid, BEV and PHEV | Japanese makes, plus auto parts and new vehicles |
| Right-hand drive | Scarce — Chinese stock is LHD | Abundant |
| Minimum order | 1 unit, mixed-model containers | 1 unit, self-service checkout |
| Inspection | 158-point check (38 core items) by a CMA-accredited third party | In-house mechanical inspection and preparation |
| How you buy | Quoted by an export adviser, landed cost by destination | Listed prices on the site, order online |
| Payment | 30% T/T deposit, balance before shipment | Bank transfer, with local offices and PayPal in some markets |
| Typical lead time | ~20 working days to prepare, ~45 days to destination | Varies by destination and shipping method |
| Best for | NEV stock, LHD markets, budget-led buyers | RHD markets, Japanese petrol stock, mature process |
Sources: BE FORWARD's published company profile and corporate website for its founding date, headcount, turnover and 2025 export volume. Xin Che Hang figures are our own operating terms. Export statistics are revised retrospectively — treat all volume numbers as order-of-magnitude, not contract terms.
BE FORWARD: scale, maturity and right-hand drive
BE FORWARD is one of the largest used-vehicle export businesses in the world. It was founded in March 2004 and is headquartered in Roppongi, Tokyo, with around 298 employees as of December 2025. It reported turnover of roughly 160 billion yen in 2025 and annual used-vehicle exports of about 190,000 units, serving customers in more than 200 countries and regions. It also runs its own preparation facility in Ibaraki and sells auto parts alongside vehicles.
Three practical consequences follow from that scale. Supply is deep across almost every Japanese segment, from kei cars to Land Cruisers. The buying process is largely self-service — stock is listed with prices and photographs, and you order online rather than negotiating by email. And most importantly for buyers in Africa, the Caribbean and parts of Southeast Asia, Japan has abundant right-hand-drive stock, which China simply does not.
The trade-offs are price and segment. Japanese vehicles carry a resale premium, so you pay more per unit than for a comparable Chinese vehicle. And Japanese supply of new-energy vehicles is thin compared with China's, so if your market is moving toward electrification, a Japanese source will not give you much to sell.
Xin Che Hang: China-sourced stock and new-energy depth
Xin Che Hang (Beijing) Automobile Co., Ltd. is a Beijing-based exporter of China-sourced vehicles, registered with China's Ministry of Commerce for used-car export and holding a foreign trade operator filing. Every vehicle ships with a per-unit export licence. Because the business is smaller and newer, orders are handled by an export adviser rather than through a self-service checkout — which matters if you want someone to check your destination's age limits and duty treatment before you commit.
The structural advantage is new-energy supply. China is the world's largest EV market, and that domestic scale makes used and near-new BEV and PHEV stock deeper and cheaper than anything available from a Japanese source. Several destination markets also apply zero or reduced duty to EVs, which compounds the advantage. Chinese stock is overwhelmingly left-hand drive, which suits most import markets, and FOB pricing is lower than Japanese equivalents.
The honest limitations: right-hand-drive stock is scarce and sourcing it adds time and cost, so RHD markets should look to Japan. Chinese vehicles also command lower residual values than Japanese ones, which cuts both ways — you pay less, but you recover less on resale. And the Chinese used-export industry is young: the ban on used-car exports was only lifted in May 2019, so institutional infrastructure is still maturing.
How to choose
Rather than asking which exporter is "better", match the source to what you actually sell:
| If you are buying… | Source from | Why |
|---|---|---|
| For a right-hand-drive market | BE FORWARD | Japan has abundant RHD stock; Chinese stock is LHD |
| BEV or PHEV stock | Xin Che Hang | China's NEV supply is deeper and cheaper than Japan's |
| Japanese petrol models by brand | BE FORWARD | Toyota, Nissan and Honda stock at scale, with auction pricing |
| The lowest entry price on petrol stock | Xin Che Hang | Lower average FOB, though check your duty regime first |
| Units where resale value matters most | BE FORWARD | Japanese brands hold residual value better |
| Mixed containers across segments | Either | Both accept single-unit orders and mixed loads |
| With a market that has tricky age or certification rules | Xin Che Hang | Adviser-led quoting flags duty and compliance issues before you pay |
One practical note: these are not mutually exclusive. Plenty of established importers run Japanese petrol stock alongside Chinese new-energy stock, because the two segments barely overlap. The comparison only becomes difficult if you try to buy the same vehicle from both.
Frequently asked questions
Is BE FORWARD bigger than Xin Che Hang?
Yes, substantially. BE FORWARD reported roughly 190,000 used-vehicle exports in 2025 and serves more than 200 countries from a business founded in 2004. Xin Che Hang is a newer, smaller exporter registered in Beijing in 2022, serving 30-plus destinations. Scale matters for stock depth and process maturity; a smaller exporter matters when you want individual attention to your market's compliance rules.
Which one is cheaper?
On FOB price, Chinese stock is generally lower, particularly for new-energy vehicles. But total landed cost depends on your destination's duty and VAT treatment, and on freight. A cheaper FOB can be erased by a duty regime that penalises larger engines or older vehicles. Compare landed cost rather than purchase price, and ask both suppliers to quote to your port.
Can I buy right-hand-drive vehicles from Xin Che Hang?
Not reliably. Chinese domestic vehicles are left-hand drive, so RHD stock is scarce and sourcing it adds significant time and cost. For RHD markets — Kenya, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Zambia and similar — a Japanese exporter such as BE FORWARD is the realistic source. We will tell you this upfront rather than quote you a long sourcing cycle.
Do both allow buying a single car?
Yes. Both accept single-unit orders, and mixed-model container loads from a single supplier are standard practice in Chinese export. The difference is in how you buy: BE FORWARD lists stock with prices for self-service checkout, while Xin Che Hang quotes through an export adviser, which is generally slower but lets you resolve destination-specific questions before paying.
How do I verify a Chinese car exporter is legitimate?
Ask for the Unified Social Credit Code and check it on the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System, confirm the Ministry of Commerce used-car export filing, and require a per-vehicle export licence before shipment. Note that Chinese used-car export operates as a registration and filing regime rather than a government-granted authorisation — a supplier claiming to be "licensed by the government" is overstating it. Our guide to the export licence covers the checks in detail.
Which is better for electric cars?
Xin Che Hang, by a wide margin. China's domestic EV scale means used and near-new BEV and PHEV stock is deeper and cheaper than Japanese equivalents, and several destination markets apply zero or reduced duty to EVs. The things to verify on any EV purchase are battery condition and the shipping rules for lithium batteries, since some RoRo carriers restrict them.
Want current stock and pricing?
Tell us your destination and the segments you buy — we will quote landed cost and flag any duty, age-limit or certification issue for your market. Every vehicle ships with a 158-point inspection report and complete export documentation.
WhatsApp us now Browse current inventory