Hello Erik,
I would never pay anything in advance.
When I get my new Chery, I pay the first rate, because it´s a leasing car.
The contract is valid after receiving the car and after the first payment.
It is no problem to get a license for this car in Germany and also insurance is no problem, because the car is already in the lists of the major German insurance companies.
At least they know, that the car is on the market, soon.
P.S.
Do you know what models of Chery will be in production by the end of 2009?
My favourite Chery is, of course, the A6 CC. *g*