Charging ahead: BYD owners left powerless by marketing spin
In a surprising twist, BYD car owners stormed into the government offices yesterday, filing an official complaint against the Chinese auto giant. They claim the company’s aggressive marketing tactics amount to nothing less than unfair selling practices, leaving them out in the cold, literally.
Led by officials from consumer protection, the disgruntled owners told tales of woe regarding access to electric car charging outlets. Rever Automotive, the exclusive Thai distributor for BYD, had made grand promises of free charging for a full year.
But here’s the rub: a select group who were lured by these promises found themselves caught out by a rapid-fire campaign of discounts—some up to a whopping 340,000 baht (US$10,270).
Owners were quick to point out the bitter truth: a scarcity of charging stations, none operational around the clock, leading to epic queues whenever they were open.
The BYD owners accused the company of abusing the government’s EV 3.0 scheme, which provided various incentives and tax breaks to promote electric car use in the country.
Consumer protection officials have urged the government to review the company’s car pricing structure and improve the accessibility of charging facilities.
Upon receiving the complaint yesterday, PM’s Office Minister Jiraporn Sindhuprai announced plans to invite representatives from Rever Automotive to discuss the issue.
“I will ask the distributor to provide further details about the recall of almost 100,000 BYD EVs in China and address safety concerns that Thai owners may have.”
According to Jiraporn, the company assured that the recall would not affect Thai customers as the affected vehicles were not sold in Thailand, reported Bangkok Post.
In related news, BYD’s recent price cuts have sparked significant outrage among its customers, who feel that they have lost substantial amounts of money due to the new promotions.
The electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer announced discounts of up to 340,000 baht, leading to a wave of discontent among early adopters who purchased vehicles before the price drop.
