The 2026 China Automotive Product Quality Performance Research Release & Award Ceremony revealed significant concerns about quality in the automotive industry, with a marked increase in complaints. Here are key highlights:
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Rising Complaints: Nearly 180,000 complaints were recorded from January to August 2026, a 15.46% increase year-on-year. Quality-related complaints made up 77.07% of the total, indicating a structural deterioration in quality.
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Problem Areas: Intelligent cockpits, driving assistance systems, and the three-electric system showed the highest decline in quality. Common issues included misidentification in driving assistance functions and battery performance problems.
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First Quality Issues: The average time for new vehicles to experience their first quality problem has decreased to 7.4 months, signaling rapid exposure of issues post-purchase. This trend points to inadequate testing due to shortened R&D cycles.
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Software Problems: While traditional power modules (like engines and gearboxes) have seen improvements, software issues (e.g., infotainment system failures) remain prevalent.
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Three-Electric System Insights: Chinese independent brands still outperform foreign brands in three-electric quality, but the gap is narrowing. Range accuracy displayed remains a critical concern.
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Shift in Consumer Focus: Users are increasingly concerned with actual performance versus advertised claims, reflecting a shift toward emphasizing user experience over hardware reliability.
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Net Promoter Score (NPS): The industry NPS index stands at 32.8, with top performers being Tesla and NIO. Product experience drives positive word-of-mouth, yet brand marketing is identified as a crucial area needing improvement.
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Regulatory Developments: New standards for automotive software quality are being implemented, aiming to shift focus from reactive to proactive quality control.
This report highlights a significant transformation in consumer expectations and the urgent need for automotive manufacturers to adapt their quality control processes to maintain market competitiveness and customer satisfaction.
