Efforts made to improve auto maintenance market

After 10 years, automakers can place the information on file, but still need to notify how to access it.

The Ministry of Transport is responsible for the guidance, coordination, supervision and administration of the information disclosure, according to the regulation.

If the information is not provided, the ministry will penalize the relevant automakers by informing the public or imposing a fine.

However, industry insiders have questioned how effect the regulation will be.

"In the short term, the regulation will not benefit consumers, and will not have much influence on auto dealers," said Teng Yan, general manager of Beijing Xinxing Fuqing Automobiles Sales Co.

Teng said that auto maintenance and repair technology are only two of key factors, and other factors such as auto parts supply channels are also important for dealers.

He believes independent dealers cannot make a big difference by only gaining auto maintenance and repair technology information.

It is the companies that make detectors to diagnose automobile troubles will benefit from the regulation, Teng said.

He thinks the regulation will be hard to follow for automakers, as it does not have detailed clauses, and may cause disputes regarding intellectual property rights.

A manager from a Renault authorized dealership who asked to not be named, also believes the regulation will have little effect on dealers.

Consumers, too, do not seem to consider the regulation will make much difference neither.

"To disclose the information or not is the same for us because we don't understand the maintenance and repair technology", said Liu Xiao, 30, a video editor living in Beijing.

Liu said in the current vehicle maintenance and repair market, customers only have two options: quality but expensive service in 4S stores, or cheap but unqualified service at independent auto maintenance and repair shops.

Liu hopes the market will become more transparent and customers will have more options in the future, so that customers are able to get quality maintenance and repair services at "a reasonable" price.

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