A growing number of Chinese car owners are facing incredibly high car insurance prices due to a shortage of spare parts for some of the most popular models made in the country.
As more car companies from China introduce their range of models to the UK market, there are fears that manufacturers are not offering enough parts support for their vehicles if they get involved in an accident.
Speaking to the motoring publication Auto Express, Ben Townsend, head of automotive research at Thatcham Research, noted that the Chinese brands are currently unaware of how the UK repair industry functions.
He explained: “There’s fundamentally nothing wrong with the cars they’re making. They’re good products. BYD is the world’s largest battery manufacturer, the world’s largest solar panel manufacturer, and makes half the world’s iPads.
“The message to Chinese organisations, and those in India and Vietnam, is don’t just bring a car to the UK market and think you can sell it.”
Whilst there is no problem with the quality of cars coming from China, motorists are facing high insurance costs due to the differing ways in which vehicles are covered.
Unlike in China, UK car insurers insist that vehicles involved in collisions are repaired to the standards set by the manufacturers themselves.
To make this possible, most Western manufacturers supply garages with how-to guides for repairs. However, since insurance companies elsewhere in the world do not have this requirement, mechanics cannot access this information from most Chinese car brands.
Ben called for Chinese car companies thinking about entering the UK market to reach out to Thatcham to make sure they are prepared for any potential issues with repairs.
He added: “Come and talk to us, understand the market, understand the steps you need to take so that when you do bring it to market, you do have the right logistics in place.
“We do have an independent repair network that can support your vehicle and make it sustainablee in the marketplace, driving down total cost of ownership and ensuring customers get the choice they deserve.”
Currently, there are four major Chinese car companies selling models in the UK, with many focusing on affordable electric cars, such as the BYD Dolphin and MG4.
In addition, a number of additional brands from China are set to launch in the country in the near future, with Brits soon able to get behind the wheel of a Nio, XPeng or Chery.
However, as motoring experts debate whether action must be taken to protect long-established western car brands, Chinese companies and garages must work closely together to make sure drivers can afford to stay behind the wheel.
Express.co.uk has contacted BYD and GWM Ora for comment
