Why do people buy Chinese cars
The Chinese auto industry is now the most controversial and controversial. Usually, when it comes to Chinese cars, readers and commentators are divided into two warring camps. Some praise Chinese cars, share their experience, how they drove 150 thousand kilometers and everything is fine, others say that it is impossible to sell, that the engine and gearbox fall apart, and the body is made of foil.
I tend to think that both camps go too far, so I talked to both sides, tried to separate the wheat from the chaff, and this is what happened.
Price
The main reason is, of course, the price. It's hard to argue here. The Chinese really are cheaper than competitors. And although prices in most cases are over a million, compared to the Japanese, Europeans and even Koreans, they are cheaper.
This is not always expressed in absolute numbers, often the “Chinese” are simply much better equipped for the same money. They offer better materials, more power, or just a bigger size.
Equipment
I have already said about the equipment above, but I want to highlight this in a separate paragraph. No one but the Chinese offers so many options for their money. The Chinese do not skimp on additional equipment.
For example, Geely Coolray is the cheapest car with an automatic parking system. If you are looking for a car with a surround view system, then the most affordable option will again come from China.
Need a car with active cruise control? Hello again, Chinese auto industry. Haval at your service. I can't say that these are very important options, but many are greedy for them and the rich equipment is really captivating.
Design
This is not a joke. Gone are the days when Chinese cars were drawn from oral descriptions of those who were at the Geneva Motor Show and walked around with a tape measure. They are no longer ugly. And some models can even be called beautiful. For example, Changan CS35 Plus, Haval F7x, Geely FY11 and Coolray, Chery Tiggo 4, Tiggo 7 Pro.
In general, no joke, many people talk about design as a reason for buying, not least. The fact is that global manufacturers not from China are trying to slightly divide cars into budget and expensive ones. Budget models usually do not shine with design frills. Chinese designers (more precisely, not Chinese, but Europeans hired by the Chinese) do their best even in budget cars. Here it would not be superfluous to recall that in the Celestial Empire itself, Chinese cars cost about 1.3-1.5 times cheaper than recently.
Warranty
Many pecked at Chinese cars because of the long warranty. The most popular automakers promise a guarantee of 5 years and 150 thousand kilometers. Some have a guarantee of 3 years or 100-150 thousand, which is also not bad. Not everyone reads the warranty terms, but simply falls for the marketing ploy, just like in the case of Kia and Hyundai. They argue like this: since the manufacturer is not afraid to give a big guarantee, it means that the product is of high quality. And if it's not of good quality, then there is a guarantee.
There is some truth in such reasoning. And it works. A large guarantee covers possible risks and fear of trying new things.
The indifference of the hijackers
Chinese cars are not popular with car thieves (at least they are not among the leaders of sad statistics), which means you can save on expensive security systems, anti-theft, CASCO and generally sleep more peacefully than with Toyota or Kia.
Trade-in discounts and adequate dealers
Recently, one of the biggest discounts for putting your old car into trade-in is given by official dealers of Chinese brands.
Plus, they say that Chinese dealers are not trying to sell together with the car a whole set of special stages for 100-200 thousand conditional units at exorbitant prices.
This is a Korean script
A lot of Chinese car owners I've spoken to are starting off from the fact that the Chinese are following the Korean scenario. That is, they make high-quality cars, dumping and earning a reputation for themselves. Therefore, they try to give people worse reliability than the same Toyota, which, in their opinion, is sold only because of the legends about its reliability in the past. The reasoning boils down to the fact that now is the best time to buy the Chinese, as they are about to be tasted, prices will rise, liquidity will be at the level of the same Koreans.
This is perhaps the most controversial argument, because it is just an assumption that has not yet been confirmed by anything. However, this is an argument, a possible scenario, and for many is a reason to buy.
I will write the point of view of the other camp a little later in another post. In the meantime, I'm waiting for your comments about the Chinese. Maybe I forgot about some advantages and pluses of the Chinese?
