BYD's clarification on car warranty welcomed by competition watchdog

Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD clarified that its vehicles can be repaired by non-authorized service providers without invalidating the relevant warranties, which was welcomed by the Competition Commission.

The amendment made by BYD to its car warranty manual addressed the concerns raised by the Commission regarding the company's original ambiguous terms in the manual. 

These terms could have misled owners into believing that only authorized providers could perform repairs to maintain the coverage of the lifetime warranty for the traction battery, said the Commission. 

The revision clearly stated that BYD vehicle owners can freely choose service providers for routine maintenance and repairs -- including those involving the traction battery -- without invalidating their warranty, unless such services directly cause damage to the traction battery.

The competition watchdog said the revision ensures that consumer choices are not restricted, and may lower maintenance and repair costs for BYD car owners.

It added that this approach helps promote competition among vehicle maintenance and repair service providers.