Auto expert Trushkova: parallel imports have changed not only the sales market, but also the repair market

Previously, car repair shops dealt with a predictable set of models, official technical support and a stable supply of spare parts. Now cars from different parts of the world come to Russia – with different specifications, firmware and configurations. Atomic expert Yulia Trushkova told Rossiyskaya Gazeta about this.

“Through parallel imports, cars for the UAE markets, versions for China, cars from South Korea, American specifications and European modifications come to Russia. Even the same model may have different control units, environmental differences, different engine calibrations, and even different part numbers. For the service, this means that the standard base no longer exists,” Trushkova noted.

According to her, imported cars often belong to a higher class, are characterized by technical complexity and require high maintenance costs. Turbo engines, hybrid systems and modern assistants – all this significantly increases the cost of repairs.

The main difficulty: the VIN code may not be recognized in the usual databases, provide incomplete data or erroneous information about the configuration. The same engine can have different injectors, turbines, sensors and firmware. A mistake when ordering a spare part is too expensive today.

In the case of rare modifications, delivery times for spare parts can reach several months with unstable prices and the absence of analogues. This leads to prolonged vehicle downtime on a lift, which negatively affects turnover, resource planning and customer loyalty.

When servicing outside the official dealer network, the owner relies on the high competence of independent service. However, the lack of technical support from the manufacturer, invalid warranties and unavailability of software documentation create high risks. Responsibility for possible errors falls on the service station, which often does not have specialized equipment, software and sufficient qualifications.

Earlier it became clear how much the average bill for servicing Chinese cars has increased.