Russian owners of Chinese-made cars are facing delays in obtaining spare parts for repairs, according to a report by Izvestia that cites participants in the automotive industry. The delays are not minor. In some cases, the wait for major components stretches to as long as five months. The items most affected include transmissions, rear fenders, trunk lids, and various interior elements. The report notes that the shortage is most acute for brands recently introduced to the Russian market, among them Changan, Li, Zeekr, FAW, and BYD, signaling a growing bottleneck in supply chains for these manufacturers.
The root cause appears to be a lack of domestic spare parts infrastructure in Russia. There are no established warehouses dedicated to stocking a broad range of parts, and logistics for made-to-order or just-in-time deliveries have not been set up at scale. This gap in the supply network means service centers and repair shops must cope with long lead times and uncertain availability, complicating routine maintenance and urgent repairs alike. Nevertheless, industry representatives remain hopeful that the situation can improve within the current year, with some executives suggesting that a stronger role by Chinese manufacturers in the Russian market could accelerate the development of local supply chains and logistics closer to where customers live and work.
Another tension in the market is the growing presence of counterfeit auto parts. In 2023, it was reported that the share of fake components across the broader Russian automotive sector increased, with counterfeit items infiltrating both original brands and well-known European and Japanese suppliers of core components and lubricants. This trend raised concerns about the reliability and safety of repairs, particularly when consumers rely on low-cost alternatives that may not meet original specifications. Workshop technicians and drivers alike began to reassess the value of genuine parts versus cheaper substitutes, weighing the risk of premature wear or equipment failure against the immediate savings in price and downtime.
Data from the same period show a shift in consumer preferences toward analogs in place of genuine spare parts. In response to supply disruptions, Russian car owners increasingly considered non-original alternatives, especially for routine maintenance and common wear items. The shift reflects both the practical need to keep vehicles on the road despite supply constraints and a broader trend toward cost-conscious spending among households. Some drivers have adjusted their usage patterns to extend the life of their vehicles, focusing on gentle driving and conservative maintenance habits to stretch intervals between service visits while awaiting the arrival of parts. These adjustments underscore the adaptive behavior of consumers under strain from supply chain frictions and rising service costs.
Meanwhile, the repair sector has felt the impact in pricing as well. Estimates indicate that the cost of car repair services rose by about twenty-five percent in the period under review. Even as some manufacturers and distributors pledge to ramp up local logistics and reduce waiting times, service centers faced higher expenses for sourcing parts, managing stock, and meeting safety and warranty requirements. Customers, in turn, faced the reality of higher bills for routine fixes and the added difficulty of securing timely repairs when parts are temporarily unavailable. The overall effect has been a mix of longer wait times, higher service charges, and careful consideration by owners about the most economical approach to maintaining or repairing their vehicles during a period of market turbulence and supply-chain disruption.