Unsatisfaction with Chinese cars due to issues like corrosion, delayed deliveries, and cold weather issues
In recent years, Chinese car brands have been making their mark in the Russian market, but they have faced a series of challenges that have drawn criticism from consumers and experts alike.
One of the primary concerns has been the price-to-quality ratio for all Chinese car brands. Many have criticised the high cost of these vehicles in comparison to their perceived quality. A study analysing over 2 million media and social media posts found that between 20-25% of the feedback about Chinese cars in Russia was negative.
The harsh Russian climate has also posed a significant challenge for these brands. Issues such as engine starting problems in cold weather, body corrosion, and long waits for parts have been common complaints. These problems can be attributed to several interconnected factors.
Firstly, the lack of full-scale local production and reliance on imports and simple assembly have led to vehicles that may not be fully adapted to local conditions or standards. Moreover, the engines of these cars have not been thoroughly tested for the harsh Russian winter environment, leading to starting problems in cold weather.
Russian regulators have also flagged safety and quality problems with Chinese vehicles, including poor braking, unclear controls, and various technical non-compliances. These issues, while often focusing on trucks, reflect broader concerns with Chinese vehicle imports in Russia.
Furthermore, the supply chain and spare parts delays have impacted maintenance and repair. Since Chinese manufacturers often do not have a fully localised parts supply chain in Russia, obtaining spare parts can incur long delays.
The market saturation and aggressive price competition have also stressed dealerships and service networks, compounding delays and quality service challenges. Chinese cars rapidly gained over 60% market share, but this saturation combined with falling demand and rising inventories has put pressure on the industry.
Strengthened import regulations and tax policies have complicated the import and cost structures for Chinese cars, indirectly affecting service cost and parts availability. The absence of a robust domestic auto sector and dependency on imports mean that the ecosystem supporting cars (including quality controls, parts production, and service infrastructure) is weak, particularly hampering Chinese-brand vehicles that rely heavily on imports rather than local production.
Despite these challenges, there have been signs of improvement. For instance, JAC's negative mentions decreased from 29% to 8% by 2024. Improvements in quality, adaptation to Russian conditions, and the development of service networks are gradually reducing the level of criticism for Chinese cars.
Brands like Omoda and Tank have also seen improvements. While Omoda had 40% positive reviews, Tank had 55% positive reviews. However, even as Chinese cars are increasingly bought in Russia, they are often a forced choice for many consumers.
The topic of price was the most discussed, with 424,332 mentions over three years. Design was the second most popular topic, generally receiving praise. Every fourth car dealership in Russia waited for parts for over a month. By 2024, negativity decreased, and neutral reviews reached 70-80% for Chinese car brands in Russia.
However, the main complaints from Chinese car owners in Russia remain the same: body corrosion, long waits for parts, and engine starting problems in cold weather. As the Russian market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Chinese car brands adapt to these challenges and continue to grow their presence in the country.
Sources: 1. The Moscow Times 2. Car and Driver 3. Russian Roads 4. TASS 5. Autonews Russia
- Despite the advancements in technology observed in Chinese car brands, concerns about their suitability for sports applications in the harsh Russian climate persist, given the issues such as engine starting problems in cold weather and body corrosion.
- The technology employed in Chinese sports cars, particularly in the area of engine performance, has come under scrutiny, with many criticizing the vehicles' reliability in extreme cold conditions, which is crucial for sports cars.
