(Motorsport-Total.com/Motor1) – The rise of Chinese automakers seemed unstoppable – but now the relentless pace of development is apparently taking its toll. Initial inspections at industry giants like BYD and Geely revealed serious defects: wheelbases were outside the permissible tolerance, consumption values were higher than stated, and cars were simply delivered without an operating manual.
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These deficiencies became known shortly after four ministries, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, launched a nationwide, year-long inspection campaign on production quality and vehicle safety. Unannounced factory inspections are now also part of it.
China’s rapid development pace comes under regulatory pressure
China develops cars at a rapid pace. A new model there takes on average about two years to reach the market, while many established foreign manufacturers usually need three to five years with traditional development cycles.
And Chinese manufacturers want to become even faster. IAT Automobile Technology and the Chinese Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) have proposed shortening the development time to just 18 months using artificial intelligence.
The authorities are less enthusiastic. Bloomberg reported that Chinese officials are now examining whether such a high pace is compatible with thorough testing. The industry’s ambitions to save even more time thus face a clear reality check.
The timing is no coincidence. Massive overcapacity and fierce price wars have put margins in the industry under pressure. The authorities now see the defects not just as isolated cases but as risks that can arise from cost pressure – for example, when manufacturers shorten or skip validation processes.
What the inspectors specifically check
The campaign launched on August 27 requires about 100 domestic manufacturers to submit reports on product quality, reliability, and durability to local authorities by the end of 2026. In addition, automakers must submit and implement voluntary recalls as soon as they detect defects.
Inspectors take sample vehicles and components directly from factories and dealerships, seal their hardware and software configurations, and then send them for crash, structural, and battery pack tests. Tests on cybersecurity and data security are also part of the campaign.
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The ministry’s own case files show why. For a Geely EX2, sold in China as Xingyuan, the deviation of the wheelbase was above the permissible one-percent tolerance. A BYD Qin L DM-i, on the other hand, recorded consumption above the stated value in the mode with maintained charge state, reports cnevpost.
Other criticized vehicles had no operating manual on board, and some emergency window and side impact protection devices did not meet the requirements. The authorities are also examining whether the mandatory road testing for new electric cars should be doubled to 30,000 kilometers – a change that would extend validation times.
All this is not limited to China. Brands like BYD and Geely rely on export growth to cushion domestic price wars. Any brand that is caught violating conformity takes this reputational damage into foreign markets, where skepticism towards quickly and cheaply developed cars already exists.
Motor1’s opinion: The tougher approach hits Chinese brands in the home market and accompanies them into export markets. Some companies are likely to slow their market launch pace, while others will try to maintain speed while investing more money in validation and compliance.
Recall reports and results from foreign homologations will provide early indications of who adapts and who stumbles. If the authorities maintain the pressure, the conflict between speed and thorough testing will become even clearer for every fast-acting manufacturer.
There is also good news at Geely and BYD
BYD Seal U DM-i remains the best-selling plug-in hybrid in Germany
This compact is the best-selling car in China, but why?
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Source: Bloomberg and cnevpost
