The Hangzhou Arbitration Court for Auto Trade was opened by the Hangzhou Used Car Circulation Industry Association November 12, making history by becoming the first of its kind in China.

The arbitration court for auto trade aims to provide an effective platform for dispute mediation to better serve the local auto market through an arbitrary mechanism.

The introduction of the arbitrary mechanism will be used for auto trade disputes, according to Zhao Liang of the Hangzhou arbitration court.

Zhao, who has a PhD in Law, introduced the five features of dispute arbitration to be used at the court:

Volunteering and justice. All arbitrary agreements will be settled with cooperation from both sides.

High-efficiency. Once the arbitration result is settled, both sides will be asked to follow regulations.

Convenience and flexibility. The disputes, with all materials prepared, can be solved at once.

No geographic limitation. Any dispute can be directed to the Hangzhou Arbitration Court for Auto Trade regardless of location.

Confidentiality. Arbitrations will be executed privately and won’t be heard in public.

Arbitrators of the court are made up of 98 individuals recommended by the Hangzhou Arbitration Commission, Zhejiang Auto Market Association, Hangzhou Auto Parts Commerce Committee, Hangzhou Auto Industry Association and Hangzhou Used Car Circulation Industry Association.

Due to rapid economic development, the amount of automobiles in the main districts of Hangzhou has risen to 522,000 as of September 2009. Cars have become basic consumer products for Hangzhou citizens, which has brought about more and more dispute cases involving auto manufacturing, auto trade, second-hand car trade, auto parts trade, auto maintenance and after-sale service.

By Xie Fang