Neither route wins by default. Australian distributors weigh the same five things on both sides of this comparison: who holds the product approval, how the lead time is structured, what the charger really costs landed, how far away support and spares sit, and whose brand goes on the housing. Buying locally trades work for speed. Importing trades money for control. Which matters most depends on your channel.
Key Takeaways
- Distributors weigh five things: approval holder, lead-time structure, landed cost, support distance and brand control.
- The local route bundles approval, stock and support into one price — and keeps the brand.
- The import route unbundles them: more work and a longer pipeline, in exchange for range and brand control.
- The approval confirmation gates everything else; close it in writing for the exact model first.
The Five Things Distributors Actually Weigh
| Criterion | Buying from a local manufacturer or supplier | Importing directly | Confirm in writing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product approval | The seller already holds it; you resell under their file | You close the approval route for the exact model yourself | Whose name is on the approval, and whether it covers your resale |
| Lead time | Warehouse stock, replenished on their cycle | Production plus sea freight, on your cycle | Stock levels and reorder points, per model |
| Total cost | One bundled price; the import stack sits inside it | You build the stack: freight, duty, clearance, certification share | A landed figure per unit, on the same trade term both sides |
| Support and spares | A local shelf and a local returns counter | Spares ship with your orders; returns run at distance | The fault process, the spare-parts list, the turnaround wording |
| Brand control | Their brand on the housing, their price discipline | Your brand is possible, including private label | Who owns the certificate if your brand goes on the unit |
The approval row carries the most weight, because it gates the other four: a charger you cannot lawfully sell has no lead time or margin worth discussing. Our guide to EV charger certification for Australia explains the schemes and the evidence behind them. The questions in that guide are the ones to close in writing before stock moves.
What Each Route Really Trades
The local route buys you three things at once: someone else’s approval file, someone else’s warehouse, and someone else’s support desk. The price you pay bundles all three, and the brand on the housing belongs to the seller. For a distributor whose customers order today and install this week, that bundle is often the correct purchase.
The import route unbundles it. You take on the approval work and a production-plus-shipping pipeline, and in exchange you choose the range, set your own price structure, and can build your own brand on the housing. The risks unbundle too: a documentation gap is yours, at distance. Neither trade is a quality judgement about the chargers themselves — the same model can sit on both sides of this table.
Sourcing the Import Route From EVDANCE
EVDANCE is a Shenzhen EV charger manufacturer founded in 2011, with its own factory, exports to more than 30 countries, private-label production from 100 units and a 3-year standard warranty. For Australian orders, the working method is to send the exact model at enquiry stage: EVDANCE can supply the model documentation pack — test reports, certificates and technical files for units such as the EV-ACT3204PE 22 kW three-phase wallbox — so your approval confirmation runs against real documents. The market version of a model and the approval evidence behind it are confirmed in writing before an order is placed; no listing substitutes for that confirmation. Start via the distributor program, the OEM and private-label program, or contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is importing always cheaper than buying from a local manufacturer?
No. A local price already contains the freight, duty, clearance and certification lines that you pay yourself when importing. Compare only after building the import stack out to the same landed point, for the same model and trade term — part of any gap is accounting, not saving.
Who holds the Australian approval when I import directly?
Whoever the approval route names for that exact model — and it is your confirmation to close, in writing, before production. Check whose name the approval sits under and whether it covers your resale; the guide linked above sets out the framework.
Can I put my own brand on chargers I import?
Yes — private-label production is a standard import arrangement, and EVDANCE offers it from 50 units. The follow-up question decides whether it works long-term: who owns the certificate when your brand is on the housing. Close that in the supply agreement, not after the first shipment.
Related Reading
- EV Charger Certification for Australia: SAA, RCM and EESS Explained
- FOB vs DDP: How to Import EV Chargers From China Without Surprises
- OEM and Private-Label EV Chargers: A Complete Guide for Brands
- EV Charger Spare Parts and RMA Process for Distributors
