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https://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/BYD-erntet-in-Europa-Schimmel-statt-Marktanteile-article24956726.html

Long waiting times damage carsBYD is harvesting mold instead of market share in Europe

By Lukas WesslingMay 21, 2024, 7:20 p.mListen to article

The Chinese company BYD has built its own freighters to export its cars.

(Photo: picture alliance/dpa)

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The Chinese electric car manufacturer BYD is apparently struggling with long downtimes. Some of the cars he shipped to Europe are said to be moldy. This is not unlikely and could indicate larger problems.

They were traveling for several months: Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Suez Canal, Mediterranean, Strait of Gibraltar, then finally - Bremerhaven. At the end of February, 3,000 vehicles rolled off the freighter of the Chinese electric car manufacturer BYD. They should conquer the European market. So far there is little to see of it. But what can be seen: mold. At least if you believe reports from the “Handelsblatt” and the “Wall Street Journal” (WSJ).

In itself, it is not unusual for mold to appear on some cars, especially after long overseas transport. But the BYD models are “currently longer in Bremerhaven,” the “Handelsblatt” quotes the operator of the terminal there. A spokeswoman told ntv.de that another BYD freighter was currently “not in sight”. It's not just the general weakening demand for electric cars that's to blame - at BYD, deliveries have also stalled, the "Handelsblatt" has heard from insiders. Too many vehicles are in parking racks and parking spaces.

“Everything can get moldy,” says ntv.de car expert Patrick Broich . The headliner, steering wheel, fittings and seats are particularly at risk. BYD confirmed to the “Handelsblatt” that it had “scattered” problems with mold infestation last year. However, the vehicles in Bremerhaven are not affected by this, according to the car manufacturer.

"The longer the cars sit..."

Biochemist Thomas Schupp explains the story of the moldy car imports; he sees a "plausible connection": the south of China has a subtropical climate; high temperatures and high humidity come together. The vehicles loaded there may be locked, the ambient temperature cools down during the journey and condensation forms. “This creates nice, moist surfaces, and mold loves moisture,” says Professor Schupp in an interview with ntv.de. All natural materials are interesting for the mold: cotton, leather, wood. The mold spores in the air would settle on these moist surfaces and do what fungi do - decompose.

01:36 minutes

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Of course, time also plays a role: “The longer the cars sit, the longer the mold can grow,” says Schupp. However, this would not add any damage to a new car that professional cleaning could not eliminate.

However, the WSJ points out concerns that the cars with mold infestation are not being professionally cleaned of spores. The accusation fits into a series of problems that BYD has in its various export markets: In Japan there are complaints about scuffs and scratches in the brand new car, in Thailand about paint that is peeling off, and in Israel about vehicle parts that are under the weight from roof racks.

Sales certificates expire

The newspaper explains the annoyances in two steps. First of all, BYD simply lacks experience in transporting cars over long distances. Therefore, BYD models required more complex and expensive repairs than usual after export. BYD's repair system seems to exacerbate this problem.

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The WSJ cites executives who are said to have internally expressed concerns about BYD's ad hoc repair process: It is manageable for a small number of vehicles, but not for the volumes of cars that BYD plans to export.

Maybe things have come full circle here. The storm on the world markets, the arrival of the BYD freighter in Bremerhaven, the breathtaking development cycles of the Chinese electric car manufacturers, the hasty repairs, the lack of sales infrastructure - perhaps BYD wanted a little too much, too quickly.

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The mold that occasionally occurs during car exports can be eliminated, with a little effort. The longer the cars sit, the longer the mold can grow and the spores can spread. The greater the effort. A service system that is not adequately prepared for this could potentially cause hiccups in the delivery chain.

More than 10,000 BYD vehicles were in European warehouses at the end of last year, writes the WSJ, citing company employees. Particularly unpleasant for the electric car manufacturer: He needs certificates in order to be able to sell his cars in the European Union. According to the report, these certificates for some of the stored wagons are about to expire - meaning they may no longer be able to be sold in Europe.