When a plastic bumper costs on the wrong side of 21,000 kroner, even Chinese electric cars with minor damage are scrapped, says scrapper.
Chinese electric cars with minor damage often end up as scrap, as spare parts are prohibitively expensive, a problem that affects both owners and dealers.
Electric cars from China are gaining popularity due to their often very low prices and extensive equipment packages. But the downside is when something goes wrong and spare parts are needed.
Repairing Chinese electric cars can be such a financial drain that it is not worth it. The prices of spare parts are significantly higher compared to other car brands.
Spare parts experts have observed that several cars are scrapped even though the damage is limited. This is mainly due to the high cost of repairs.
Karl Morten Dalen from Gronvolds Bil-Demontering confirms that the price level has generally increased for most car brands. However, certain Chinese manufacturers, especially Hongqi, have prices that are completely disproportionate.
This is what Norwegian Motor writes.
An example is the Hongqi E-HS9, a luxury electric car from China. A new tailgate costs 26,000 kroner, a radiator grille 18,000 kroner, a door 30,000 kroner, while a plastic rear bumper runs up to 21,000 kroner plus the loose parts.
Prices that are much higher than for similar spare parts for other car brands. A door for an Audi costs an average of 17,000 kroner, while a rear door for a Tesla Model X is around 11,000 kroner.
The high prices are creating problems for both car dealers and repair shops. Some dealers are having to take spare parts from cars that have not yet been sold in order to be able to help customers now and then.
Hongqi's importer in Norway, Motor Gruppen, argues that the prices reflect the car's exclusivity and limited production, highlighting the use of more expensive materials such as aluminum and the increase in shipping costs in recent years.
But it's not just Hongqi that wants more for the same spare parts. William Thoresen from Delespesialisten sees a general trend towards rising prices for car parts.
He explains that several factors come into play, including currency fluctuations, the pandemic and other global events. But the price differences between different car brands are significant.
German and Japanese manufacturers often have cheaper spare parts as their cars are designed to be easy to repair. Chinese car brands, on the other hand, generally have more expensive parts and repairs.
The high cost of spare parts may force some car owners to scrap their cars instead of repairing them.
Karl Morten Dalen has seen several examples of cars that have been scrapped with minor damage because repairs are too expensive.
"We see cars being scrapped even though they only have minor damage," says Dalen.
– It's too expensive to fix them, and some owners even have outstanding loans on the cars when they hand them over for scrapping.
The reason for the high prices of spare parts for Chinese electric cars is complex. But the result is that many consumers can be financially ruined by a single dent.
Here at home, Hongqi sales are almost invisible. The Danish importer sold just 15 cars in the whole of 2024. In January 2025, it has become two cars. Some owners even feel cheated. Read more about it here .
