Buying a used Chinese car older than 15 years in Russia is associated with high risks. You should avoid cars manufactured in the 2000s and early 2010s, according to auto expert Alexander Kovalev.
It was on these models, as the specialist noted, that negative stereotypes about the Chinese auto industry were formed. These cars were distinguished by low reliability, poor anti-corrosion protection, and serious problems with the availability of body parts.
Kovalev emphasized that special caution should be exercised when choosing cars of brands that have already left the Russian market. Among them, he named Lifan, Hawtai, Zotye, Brilliance, and a number of other brands, for which it is difficult to find original spare parts and qualified service today.
Caution should also be exercised with Livan cars. Despite talks about possible localization, the brand has not yet managed to gain a firm foothold in the market. The same list includes cars of the Kaiyi and SWM brands — having made a громко statement at the start, they have noticeably reduced their activity over time and practically disappeared from the public field.
Even among more modern cars, according to the expert, risks remain. The focus is on brands with low sales volumes and non-obvious prospects in Russia. As an example, Kovalev cited the Forthing brand, which has not yet been able to form a stable presence in the market.