Efforts made to improve auto maintenance market

A mechanic checks a car. China has issued new maintenance policies to regulate the market. [Photo/China Daily]

China is making efforts to improve its auto maintenance and repair market to protect consumer's rights and interests.

A regulation that requires vehicle makers to disclose information on auto maintenance and repair technology online will be implemented from Jan 1.

The regulation was jointly issued on Sept 25 by eight government departments, including the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ministry of Commerce and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.

In recent years, with car ownership rocketing in the country, the need for auto maintenance has risen. However, such service has been a headache for many consumers because of the lack of transparency and the arbitrary imposition of fees in the auto maintenance and repair market.

There are several deadlines for automakers to follow.

From Jan 1, 2016, automakers must publish their maintenance and repair technology information within six months after the launch of new passenger cars and buses that obtain China Compulsory Certification.

From Jan 1, 2017, automakers must publish maintenance and repair technology information within six months after the launch of CCC trucks and semi trailers.

For passenger cars and buses that gained their CCC after July 1, 2008, and trucks and semi trailers that obtained their CCC after Jan 1, 2015, automakers need to publish their maintenance and repair technology information by Jan 1, 2017.

For passenger vehicle models with total sales of less than 1,000 units; and bus, truck and semi trailer models with total sales of fewer than 200 units, automakers need not publish the information online, but instead need to publish the information in other forms, such as in print, by Dec 31 next year.

The regulation allows automakers to charge for the information, but the price should be "fair and reasonable".

If needed, auto parts suppliers should publish the information of their auto parts to automakers, as part of the vehicle maintenance and repair technology information.

The information should be disclosed to the public for 10 years from the launch of the model.