New standards for Chinese automotive after sales industry in the works

Several national standardization protocols, including those for automotive after sales services, are currently being decided upon, an Economic Observer Newsreport revealed, citing information from the China National Institute of Standardization and China Automobile Dealers Association. Many analysts point out that the implementation of unified standards for automotive after sales services will have a significant influence on the development of the industry as a whole.

A source close to the National Institute of Standardization revealed that they had sent the framework structures of the four standardization provisions, including the one for automotive after sales services, to various automotive enterprises for their feedback at a meeting held at the end of last month. The source added that the organization hopes that all parties will agree at this month’s meeting so that draft legislation can be released the following month. In addition to standards for after sales services, there is also standards related to automotive after sales evaluations, automotive parts market services and 4S dealer management and service standards on the table.

Analysts believe that the implementation of new standards, which are stricter than any previous standards, will help improve the quality of service levels in the automotive after sales industry in China. The Chinese after sales industry has been under fire following reports of exorbitant prices for basic repairs, with one such report stating that some consumers were charged with maintenance fees for a single automobile that totaled the value of 12 brand new automobiles.