The state has issued opinions pointing out that monopolistic automobile parts prices are expected to decrease

Release time：2023-05-31　　　　 Time to browse

Recently, ten national ministries and commissions jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on the Transformation and Upgrading of the Maintenance Industry", proposing regulations such as disclosing automotive maintenance technology, allowing free circulation of original parts, and homogeneous parts, in order to point out monopoly. In the view of industry insiders, the new regulations are expected to lower the high prices of accessories and promote the overall transformation and upgrading of the automotive repair industry.

The spring of social repair garages may indeed have arrived.

Social auto repair shops welcome spring?

The owner of the car repair shop, Bao Qi, said to Old Chen, who came to the shop to repair his car, "It seems that this time we're going to come for real." His words couldn't conceal his excitement.

Baoqi is referring to the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Transformation and Upgrading of the Automotive Maintenance Industry and Improving Service Quality" jointly issued by ten national ministries and commissions recently (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions").

As a "insider" who has been working in the automotive repair industry for 10 years, Baoqi is aware that this is a continuation of the anti monopoly storm that swept up in China earlier.

Prior to this, the National Development and Reform Commission issued antitrust fines to BMW, 12 Japanese bearing and component companies, FAW Volkswagen, and Chrysler, with a penalty amount of nearly 1.6 billion yuan.

There was an antitrust storm before, followed by the release of the "Opinions", and the country was determined to break the monopoly between automobile manufacturers and dealers.

The introduction of new regulations is undoubtedly good for roadside repair garages. Baoqi looks forward to the arrival of spring, "which means a fair environment for us, the opportunity to gain more customers, and the opportunity to expand the brand

In the automotive repair industry, Baoqi believes that manufacturers are the most powerful, followed by distributors, and finally personal repair companies. Due to limitations in funding, technology, and channels, social repair garages are often in a state of survival amidst cracks.

This time, the "Opinions" require the main engine factory to disclose automotive maintenance technology to maintenance enterprises and independent operators, allow the free circulation of original parts, and propose regulations such as "homogeneous parts". "It is necessary to establish a market-oriented mechanism, which is conducive to regulating social automotive repair shops

The head of a chain car repair brand in the western suburbs of Zhengzhou stated that the "Opinions" first proposed the concept of "homogeneous parts" for car maintenance, which means eliminating discriminatory perceptions of non original parts. For a long time, manufacturers have strictly controlled channels, and it is difficult for social repair shops to obtain original parts, while car owners often only recognize original parts. In fact, the quality of non original parts that meet standards is also very good

Impact

The 'stickiness' of 4S stores towards customers may decrease

Unlike Baoqi's excitement, Shen Ming is somewhat worried.

As the after-sales manager of a joint venture brand 4S store in Zhengzhou, he has always been following the country's policies towards the automotive repair industry.

The implementation of the "Opinions" will definitely have an impact on us, "Shen Ming said." Selling cars is better than making money after sales "has long been a consensus among 4S dealership dealers in recent years, and the new regulations will break the original profit model in the automotive repair market.

He explained that the automobile retail and after-sales market, also known as the "4S store model", which was previously dominated by automobile manufacturers and authorized dealers, faces real challenges.

For example, the monopoly of original accessory channels will be eliminated. Shen Ming introduced that enterprises that originally could only provide accessories to automobile manufacturers can now directly provide accessories to dealers. The circulation process has been reduced, and the prices of accessories will also decrease.

This means that in the past, when a part arrived at the owner's hands, the manufacturer had to increase the price, while the 4S store had to increase the price, resulting in expensive parts. In the future, the original parts that 4S stores can obtain will also be available to social repair garages, forming competition. If 4S stores continue to increase prices for sales, they will gradually lose consumers; But if the price is not increased, the profit in this stage will decrease.

In fact, it is the transformation and upgrading of the '4S store model' that has been popular for over 10 years, "said Shen Ming.

In addition, the disclosure of automotive repair technology has also brought some impacts. Once the repair capabilities of car 4S stores and regular repair garages are comparable, the customer stickiness of 4S stores will decrease, and the risk of customer churn will increase, "said Shen Ming.

In his view, the future of the automotive repair industry is focused on service, and there is also a possibility of a price war. "Whoever offers affordable products and good service can attract customers

guess

The right to choose truly belongs to the car owner

If it weren't for Baoqi, Old Chen wouldn't know what "Opinions" are yet. Now, he is also paying attention to the implementation of the 'Opinions', as they involve the vital interests of ordinary car owners like him.

All we care about is where to repair a car cheaply and with good quality, "said Old Chen. This sentence is simple, but it's difficult to find such a place.

The introduction of the "Opinions" has made Old Chen feel that it is possible to resolve the concerns of car owners.

Old Chen said that whether repairing or maintaining a car, as long as the parts are labeled with the word "original factory", the price will definitely be high. If we can truly break the monopoly and reduce the circulation of accessories in the future, the prices of accessories should decrease, and the benefits will still be for car owners.

In addition, the previous clause that "unauthorized repair services cannot be selected within the three guarantees period" has caused many car owners to feel entangled.

"This time it is clearly stipulated that authorized maintenance enterprises shall not refuse to provide maintenance services on the ground that they choose unauthorized maintenance services within the three guarantee period."

A reporter from Henan Business Daily learned that Liu Xiaoming, Director of the Transportation Department of the Ministry of Transport, had stated in interpreting the "Opinions" that the new regulations will to some extent break the customary practice of automobile production enterprises authorizing 4S stores to abuse automobile warranty terms and infringe on consumer rights during the new car warranty period, fully protecting the maintenance options and automobile warranty rights of automobile consumers.

expect

Early release of implementation rules

There is a saying that says' there are policies above and countermeasures below '. The country's policies are well formulated, but they are afraid of being discounted when implemented below

Mr. Wang, the car owner, is not unreasonable in his concerns.

The sales representative of a 4S store stated that although the "Opinions" stipulate that authorized repair companies shall not refuse to provide repair services on the grounds that the car chooses unauthorized repair services within the three guarantees period, if the car owner malfunctions after repairing the vehicle at a social repair shop and then goes to the 4S store for maintenance, the 4S store may believe that the vehicle's malfunction is caused by another store's repair. How to identify the cause of a malfunction is a very troublesome matter, and it is very easy to argue.

The Opinion mentioned that "if a new model fails to effectively disclose its maintenance technology information after three months of launch, the relevant announcement and CCC certification certificate of the model will be revoked", but the problem followed.

There is a viewpoint that, for example, if a car model has a high level of technical content, does disclosing its maintenance information mean a leakage of technology? To what extent is it better to be public? Will competitors of their own products directly obtain corresponding information? After the implementation rules are introduced, these are clear at a glance

Jiang Gongmin, the president of the Henan Automobile Industry Association, also stated that the current guidance is only a guiding opinion, and whether it can be implemented effectively depends on the implementation details.