Countdown to Automobile "Three Guarantees" Policy

The "Car Three Guarantees" policy will be formally implemented on October 1. Recently, the "Auto Three Guarantees" important supporting standard "Car Three Guarantees Standard", namely, "The Three Cargo Parts Category and Three Guarantees Certificate for Household Automobile Products" was formally approved. . For this, the majority of car owners who are the biggest beneficiaries are cheering. On the contrary, the dealers who are in the front line are in a trance. Only the attitude of the car companies behind the scenes is unclear.

It is reported that as of now, only a few auto companies such as Beijing Automotive and Changan Mazda have announced the implementation of the Three Guarantees. The other hundreds of car companies are not silent. They are watching. The industry speculates that some car companies may secretly start to revise their own after-sales service terms to suit the new policy. Experts analyzed that "car three bags" is not one-sided to consumers, while protecting consumer rights, but also to dealers to leave room.

Interpretation of the "Three Guarantees Standard" by the New Deal clarifies the scope of maintenance
"Three Guarantees" simply means "repair, replacement, return". According to the recently passed "Car Three Guarantees Standard," the maintenance of the problem vehicle is still unresolved twice within 60 days. The dealer must provide a scooter or return the vehicle to the consumer. However, there are clear provisions in the scope of maintenance, including 7 types of “big parts” such as engines, transmissions, steering systems, brake systems, suspension systems, front/rear axles, and bodywork. Previously, consumers complained about the most concentrated new car smells and volatile organic substances. Problems such as poor steering and circuit faults are not listed here. They can only be repaired and cannot be returned or changed.

It is reported that with the development of automotive technology, especially since China became the world's largest market since 2009, joint venture car companies have begun to accelerate the upgrading of their technology. The seven categories of “big parts” and their main components in the regulations are reliable and durable. The degree has been greatly increased. Taking the engine as an example, the quality problem that occurs within 100,000 km and the probability of two repairs cannot be solved is extremely low.

"The Three Guarantees policy is the most attractive to consumers as 'paid back, replacement' is possible." Insiders pointed out: "The new passenger car product warranty period and the 'three guarantees' period does not have much impact on car prices Most of the car companies have already reached the standard. The main reason is that there are provisions for returning cars and changing cars in the new regulations. This has a greater impact on car companies and dealers."

Car companies respond to encourage dealers to buy back and repurchase vehicles

A few days ago, reporters interviewed a number of auto companies related to the after-sales department, they all said that they have begun to formulate relevant policies to support dealers to adapt to new regulations.

According to the report, public car companies mainly have three major measures: One is selling test vehicles to dealers at lower discounts. In addition to taking test drive, the test car will serve as a customer scooter during maintenance. The regulations stipulate that as long as dealers can provide scooter, they do not need to return the vehicle; second, once they encounter return and exchange, dealers are encouraged to buy back, auto companies give certain compensation, and then use the second-hand car after repair; third is in auto finance. , Give dealers greater support to ensure the normal operation of the capital chain. However, many car companies also stated that these supports can only be concentrated in first-tier cities in a short period of time, because first and second tier cities have high sales volume and large quantities; in the third and fourth tier cities, they are not entirely ignored and will implement countermeasures according to specific circumstances.

An executive from Geely Automobile stated that in order to respond to the implementation of the auto three bags, Geely has started training the dealers, asking them to familiarize themselves with the process, improve the spare parts supply system, and optimize the information system so that all issues can be seen at a glance. If consumers question the quality of the car and require a return, “the manufacturer should be responsible,” the Geely executive said. However, how to operate and how to coordinate the conflicts between the manufacturers and distributors is still under exploration.

In addition, Changan, BYD and other car companies said: "For the Three Guarantees policy, we are still digesting ..."

Maintenance costs will not be passed on to consumers

A series of after-sales maintenance costs generated by the Three Guarantees will not be passed on to consumers. Recently, many car companies interviewed without exception, said that the internal consultation will be resolved, will not allow consumers to bear.

Liu Hong, deputy general manager of Dongfeng Honda, said: “The current market competition is so fierce. Selling new cars at high prices, increasing after-sales prices, and shifting costs are not what mature automobile companies will do.” “Taking Dongfeng Honda as an example, it will optimize the pace of production. , improve logistics efficiency, achieve localized production and procurement, and absorb the pressure brought by high costs."

According to Hu Shunhua, deputy general manager of SAIC-GM-Wuling, “I would sell 10 cars for others. From the quantitative point of view, Wuling is the car company most affected by the Three Guarantees, but in reality, we are the most relaxed one. The quality of the models is extremely high. Customers will buy back with very few complaints, let alone returning cars."

The data show that starting in 2011, the automobile began to enter the “micro-growth” era, with an annual growth of less than 10%, and the competition is becoming increasingly fierce. The automakers have to innovate more “to appease” the consumer means, and “consumer first” is gradually implement. Insiders pointed out that in fact, the auto companies have started to implement the "Three Guarantees" intentionally or unintentionally. The implementation of the "Three Guarantees" is only the final decision on the policy; therefore, don't worry, the "Three Guarantees" will bring higher new cars. Price and maintenance costs.

Dealer's statement is waiting for manufacturer's policy

At present, the dealers are in the front line of the auto market, and are the main bearers of the “Three Guarantees” related regulations. At the same time, they are also the “buffers” between consumers and auto companies. According to report, most dealers have used their car manufacturers as their backers. After the implementation of the “Car Three Guarantees, if there are some problems we cannot solve, we have to wait for the manufacturers' policy”, an unnamed distributor Indicated.

"The impact will surely be there, but there will always be solutions. The test of the Guangzhou limit card is such a big test that it has survived, not to mention now." The general manager of a Dongfeng Honda 4S store in Guangzhou told reporters. The relevant person in the BMW Guangzhou Baoyue Store also stated that it is currently waiting for the manufacturer's unified decision, "The 4S shop that is undertaking this will surely bear it."

A veteran automotive analyst believes that "Three Guarantees" helps to increase dealers' right to speak. "In the past, dealers had to rely on the alliance to 'fight' the car companies. Now it is completely unnecessary. Car companies are worried about the dealer's withdrawal and one dealer will withdraw. This means that other dealers in the same region must assume heavier after-sales pressure." "Being a dealer as a business partner, I used to just say that the high-end car companies wouldn't really regard the dealer as a partner. It's completely different now."

Industry worried about the Three Guarantees New Deal or pushing up the price

Analysis of the industry, the implementation of the three bags of regulations is most likely to push up the price of cars, manufacturers push new cars, the pricing will be calculated into the risk, just like insurance companies push any insurance is actually to calculate their own risk, if Three bags will really appear, it will have a risk prevention, then its price will increase. The Geely Automobile executives once said that reducing costs is comprehensive, and the key is to improve efficiency and product quality. As for how to absorb costs, it is still being explored.

Some experts said that the formulation of China's automobile three-bag policy is based on the American lemon law. Within ten years of the implementation of the lemon law, the German auto companies were forced to undergo mergers and reorganizations, leaving Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and BMW in the end. The implementation of the automobile three-package policy may also change the pattern of the Chinese auto industry.

Consumer reaction to sigh

"I would like to buy a car now, but later decided to wait for the October auto three-pack New Deal to be implemented later." Consumer Chen said. The reporter learned from the auto market that during the period prior to the implementation of the New Deal, the auto market had a rather thick wait-and-see atmosphere. Some consumers held money to be implemented in the New Deal, and some consumers set the time for picking up cars to be after October 1.

For the implementation of the New Deal, most consumers are worried that the costs incurred by the policy will be further passed on to themselves. Because the follow-up of the automobile three-bag policy will generate a lot of additional costs, such as vehicle depreciation fees, license fees, vehicle purchase tax, etc. Who will pay for these costs? There are also some consumers worried about the problems, dealers and manufacturers to shirk responsibility from each other, leading to long periods of consumer rights protection, harming the interests of consumers.

In addition, the lack of operability of the new three-pack new regulations inspection and appraisal provisions has also been questioned by consumers. Some experts said that the problem that caused difficulties in identification was that the cost of vehicle quality appraisal was high and it was difficult for ordinary consumers to bear. Another reason is that there are too few, insufficiently neutral testing bodies for the quality of existing vehicles, and the identification procedures are cumbersome and have a long cycle. In most cases, the car has quality problems, which are all determined by the manufacturers themselves. This situation, which is both an "athlete" and a "referee," prevents consumers from accepting inspection data or conclusions.