Yuan Planet

High-Level Overview

Yuan Planet is a Chinese automotive recycling company that operates an integrated supply chain platform for reused automotive parts, focusing on recycling critical components and metallic materials from vehicles to serve the aftermarket industry, particularly repair enterprises and dealerships.[1][2][4] It solves inefficiencies in traditional distribution—such as part shortages, high middleman markups (over 30%), and poor quality—through a database of dismantled parts, intelligent upstream procurement of scrapped vehicles, in-house midstream dismantling, and direct downstream sales channels via a cloud-based SaaS system.[1][2] The company rebranded in 2022 to emphasize circular economy principles and recently completed tens of millions in USD funding, signaling strong growth momentum as it expands internationally, targeting 10% of products for export.[1][2]

Origin Story

Founded in 2019 and based in Xicheng District, China, Yuan Planet emerged to address chronic issues in the automotive recycling sector, led by founder and CEO Li Yang.[2][4] The company rebranded to "Yuan Planet" in 2022, shifting from a reuse parts platform to a full recycling resource solutions provider, with two core segments: recycling/distributing components like engines and transmissions, and processing vehicle body metals into raw materials.[1] Early traction came from building proprietary capabilities in vehicle acquisition, dismantling, and sales, culminating in significant funding in 2023 and a strategic international push, using compatible retired Chinese vehicle parts for overseas demand.[1][2]

Core Differentiators

• Integrated Supply Chain Platform: Combines a dismantled parts database and cloud SaaS for intelligent pricing to procure vehicles upstream, self-built plants for high-volume dismantling midstream, and direct sales to repair shops/dealerships downstream, bypassing traditional inefficiencies.[1][2]
• Circular Economy Focus: Recycles key components (e.g., engines, axles, suspensions) and metals, enhancing parts sales ratio and sustainability, with a 2022 rebrand underscoring environmental commitments.[1]
• Global Expansion Strategy: Positions Malaysia as a hub to connect scrap sources from US, Australia, Japan, and China, exporting to Southeast Asia, South Asia, Middle East, and Africa, leveraging vehicle generation differences and market demand (e.g., rising dismantling fees).[1][2]
• Efficiency Gains: Addresses part shortages and price inflation, ensuring steady high-quality supply to aftermarket users.[2]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Yuan Planet rides the global shift toward circular economies and automotive sustainability, driven by rising scrapped vehicle volumes, environmental regulations, and demand for affordable aftermarket parts in emerging markets.[1][2] Its timing aligns with post-pandemic supply chain disruptions and EV/hybrid scrappage trends, where compatible parts from advanced markets fill gaps in developing regions; Malaysia's proximity, policies, and status as a top recycling hub amplify this.[2] By digitizing recycling via SaaS and databases, it influences the ecosystem through efficient resource recovery, reduced waste, and precedent for tech-enabled circular models in auto aftermarkets, potentially scaling to influence global trade norms.[1][2]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Yuan Planet's funding and Malaysia hub position it for rapid scaling, with overseas exports growing beyond 10% amid favorable disparities in vehicle lifecycles and trade policies.[1][2] Trends like stricter emissions rules, EV battery recycling mandates, and Southeast Asian auto booms will shape its path, potentially evolving it into a dominant global player in sustainable auto resources. This builds on its platform's early wins, promising broader impact in greening the $1T+ aftermarket while delivering shareholder value.