That Chinese cars have come to stay is something that has been known for a long time. In Spain, vehicles are sold more than twenty brands from the Asian country or with links with it, which causes more and more vehicles to be in circulation and, additionally, those that end up arriving at the scrap.
This does not mean that Chinese brands are less reliable or cannot be repaired in case of traffic accident. It refers to the fact that, having more and more of these vehicles on the roads, it is inevitable that they are not involved in claims of different kinds, which causes some of them to be reaching the vehicle treatment centers.
The number of Chinese cars on roads (and in the scrapping) grows
From Recomotor they affirm that “the presence of Chinese models in vehicle treatment centers is the definitive indication that they have passed to integrate fully into the life cycle of the mobile park of our country”, explains the company’s spare manager, Marc Cüñat.
2024 closed very positively for several of these Chinese brands in Spain. Examples such as byd, which accumulated 5.393 units enrolled; Mg, with 30,770 units; And omoda, which arrived at 7,784 units are a faithful reflection of the great acceptance that these car brands from the Asian giant are having in our country.
This year the thing does not seem to change. In fact, Everything indicates that these brands will be even more reinforced. During the first third of the year, Byd already has 5,354 units enrolled (almost the same as in all 2024); Jaecoo accumulates 2,646 units; MG already goes for 16,555 units (79.8% more than last year); and Omoda grows up to 3,364 units, or what is the same, at the pace of 346% more.
To all this we must add the rest of Chinese brands that we have in the Spanish market, as is the case of DFSK, Dongfeng, Hongqi, Leapmotor, Swm, Xpeng or Yudo, to mention only a few.
The challenge of recycling Chinese electric cars
Meanwhile, in the scrapping and repair workshops there is a presence of these Chinese vehicles, regardless of whether they are electric cars or are equipped with combustion engine, something that is a challenge both at the level of replacement availability and recycling of these vehicles once they reach the dealers.
Let’s keep in mind that many of these brands, although they have a lot of presence in China, do not have so much experience in international markets, much less in the demanding European market. In addition, other brands are recently created, although the one they truly succeed have a Chinese automotive giant behindsuch as Saic, Geely or Chery.
Once their electric cars reach the scrapping, “the number of recoverable parts is quite similar to that of combustion cars,” explains Cuñat, adding that “Many of them, such as body, suspension or interiors, are checked in the same way“That with a vehicle with thermal motor.
The person in charge of recoomotor spare parts does not hesitate to point out one of the most weight challenges that this sector has faced with the arrival of Chinese electric cars to the scrapping: “Regarding key components such as electric motor and high voltage battery, we have had to adapt and acquire specific diagnostic systems”.
Improvement in the spare parts chain
However, Chinese manufacturers have also been able to adapt to the changes and demands of the European automotive market, especially as regards spare parts, since many of these pieces, especially those of high rotation, They can be available in the workshops in just 24 hours.
Of course, there are other somewhat less common pieces that do present prolonged waiting times that come to overcome even three weeks. For Cuñat, “this further complicates the viability of many repairs, since the cost of the sinister vehicle can quickly approach the venal value if the deadlines are lengthened and the availability of parts is not guaranteed.”
Despite the inconveniences, Chinese car manufacturers are moving forward to a great rhythm to adapt to the times, demands and needs of European drivers, which increases their competitiveness against traditional brands of the West.
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Tags: Chinese cars
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