China's auto market development of the AB side: one for every 10 vehicles need to be recalled

Recently, the United States announced an increase in tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum products, but also brought "big trouble" to the automotive industry. Analysts pointed out that rising raw material prices will drive up the cost of the entire industry chain, and the cost of growth will eventually be transferred to consumers.

At the beginning of March of each year, it was the peak period for the recall of defective automobile products in China. At the same time, there was also a busy public relations team for car companies.

Recalls every 10 cars

In recent years, with the development of the national economy and the increase in residents’ income, China’s automobile production and sales volume has consistently ranked first in the world. In 2017, the production and sales volume has approached 30 million vehicles. China is gradually moving from a large automobile country to a powerful automobile country.

On the other hand, with the rapid development of the auto market in China, the associated problems and ills have gradually emerged. The legitimate rights and interests of consumers are constantly being infringed upon by car manufacturers and distributors. Car consumer rights protection has become an important part of protecting the legitimate rights and interests of consumers.

Statistics show that since the implementation of the defective vehicle recall system in China in 2004, a total of 1,548 vehicle recalls have been implemented and a total of 56.738 million defective vehicles have been recalled. Especially in recent years, the number of defective vehicles recalled in our country has grown at a rapid rate. The annual number of defective vehicle recalls has increased by more than 50% year-on-year. The number of annual recalls is second only to the United States and ranks second in the world.

According to a report issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), in 2017, China's major automobile manufacturers conducted a total of 251 hidden car recalls and recalled 20.048 million defective vehicles, a 77% increase year-on-year. This is the fourth consecutive year that the number of car recalls has been refreshed. It is also the first time that the number of defective automobile products recalled in China has exceeded 20 million vehicles a year.

According to the calculation of the 217 million vehicles nationwide at the end of 2017, there is a problem vehicle that needs to be recalled for every 10 vehicles.

However, the significant increase in the number of defective product recalls does not mean that the legal protection system for domestic consumers has been improved. Host plants and distributors can actively consider the recall in consideration of consumer interests.

A reporter from International Finance News checked the recall announcement issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine in 2017 and found that 58 vehicle recalls were triggered by the defect investigation work conducted by the AQSIQ, and the number of recalled defective vehicles was 13.58 million, accounting for the recall of the year. About 70% of the total.

Protection of consumer rights and interests must be strengthened

In an interview, the reporter found that few manufacturers are willing to voluntarily recall problem vehicles. This often requires manufacturers to pay more. For example, at the beginning of this year, the Dongfeng Honda CR-V "throttle engine" incident ignited an uproar. When Dongfeng Honda first received consumer complaints, it denied that the product had quality problems, and was forced by pressure from the media and Internet media to announce Study ways to solve problems.

In addition, Ford owners once told the “International Finance” reporter that Chang’an Ford Motor Co., Ltd.’s 2015 production of winged tiger models had problems with “gestures”, and it has not resolved the problem for owners.

Lawyers inside the industry told the “International Financial News” reporter, automobile consumption rights protection activities mainly include vehicle quality issues, after-sales service issues, car sales contract issues. Among them, the most important cause of contract disputes is the weak consumer awareness of the law; the quality of automobiles is the most complaints and disputes, depending on the host plant's technology and processes; and after-sales service runs through the entire life cycle of the car, due to the corresponding Because the service companies are mixed, the problems are endless.

In the 2017 car recalls, airbags and seat belts caused the largest number of recalls, involving 10.638 million vehicles, which accounted for 53.1% of the total number of recalls, which were mainly due to the quality of the airbags.

In 2017 alone, there were 29 auto companies that had recalled Takada airbags in the Chinese market. They recalled 36 times and involved 9.87 million vehicles.

There are also some manufacturers that have vehicles with large-scale recall problems. Many owners are not satisfied with the solution given by the manufacturers, but actual rights and interests cannot be guaranteed. In this series of processes, there are problems such as difficulties in identification and difficulty in providing evidence, and it is difficult for consumers alone to compete with the OEMs and distributors.

For consumers, it is hoped that “3·15” will not be a specific day, but will be a signboard that can deter manufacturers from actually solving the problem, so as to truly protect consumers’ legal rights.