China Car Sales Inflated: Consumer Complaints Reveal Widespread Padding by Automakers

Jul 30, 2025 China China Business & Finance
China Car Sales Inflated: Consumer Complaints Reveal Widespread Padding by Automakers

Chinese automakers are inflating car sales figures by pre-insuring vehicles, according to a Reuters analysis of consumer complaints. BYD, Toyota, VW, Buick are

China Car Sales Inflated: Automakers Accused of Padding Figures

A recent Reuters analysis has uncovered a concerning trend in China's auto market: automakers and dealers are reportedly inflating car sales figures amidst an intense price war.

Widespread Practice Revealed

The tactic involves insuring vehicles before they are actually purchased by consumers. This creates a misleading impression of sales targets being achieved.

Earlier reports highlighted EV brands Neta and Zeekr, but the practice appears to be more widespread. Consumer complaints indicate involvement from major domestic and foreign brands, including:

  • BYD
  • Toyota
  • Volkswagen
  • Buick

Consumer Complaints Detail Deceptive Tactics

Numerous consumer complaints detail dealerships admitting that pre-insuring vehicles is specifically designed to meet sales quotas.

Impact on Market Transparency

While the exact impact on overall sales remains unclear, experts warn this practice can misrepresent actual demand, potentially leading to errors in production scheduling. Buyers have expressed feeling deceived upon discovering pre-existing insurance policies registered under different names.

By news 6 days ago
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