YOTO Two vehicles with the same unit price can have wildly different landed costs, because the container does not care about price. It cares about volume. The number that matters is units per container, and it varies by a factor of nine across this range.
Density across the range #
| Model | Packing | Units per container | What it implies |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZS | SKD, 40 ft HQ | 36 | Lowest freight per unit in the range |
| A8P | SKD, 40 ft HQ | 9 | Light quadricycle, high density |
| M1P | CBU, 40 ft HQ | 8 | Complete units, higher freight per unit, no assembly |
| T5P / LK7 / A900 / A901 / A8H | SKD, 40 ft HQ | 4–5 | Mid-size bodies |
| EEC320 / EEC350 / EEC350S | 20 ft GP | 4 | Passenger tricycles, 12–18 per 40 ft HQ depending on model |
| HN-PK | 40 ft HQ | 4 | Enclosed cab, low density, highest freight per unit |
Figures are the manufacturers’ declared packing densities and vary with body style and packing method. Confirm before quoting a landed cost.
Why one unit is still a real order #
A dealer testing a market, or filling a specific customer order, does not want a container. A factory cannot economically break a line for one vehicle. A supplier buying across four manufacturers can put a single unit on an existing build — that is the entire commercial reason the one-unit minimum exists, and it is worth understanding before you negotiate.
How to build a landed cost #
- Ex-works or FOB unit price.
- Freight per unit — total freight divided by units actually shipped, not by the container capacity.
- Insurance, typically a small percentage of CIF value.
- Duty and VAT at import, at your national rates.
- Inland transport to your premises, plus unloading.
- Registration costs per vehicle.
- Pre-delivery inspection and any assembly labour, if SKD.
Do that once per model and the differences become obvious. A model with a 30% higher unit price but nine units per container can beat a cheaper model at four units per container on landed cost — and the reverse is just as common. The unit price alone tells you almost nothing.
Mixing models in one container #
A mixed container is usually possible within one manufacturing system, because the packing is designed around the same frame sizes. Across systems it is not: two factories, two loading plans, two sets of documents. If your first order is a market test, pick models from one system and add the second system once the first has cleared registration.