🔧 Service & warranty in the EU

Who Services a Chinese EV in the EU?

An honest answer to the question that stops the most buyers — service, warranty, delivery and registration in the EU.

📅 Updated: June 2026⏱️ 8 min read

When someone first seriously considers a Chinese EV, the conversation almost always stops at the same question: “But who’ll fix it here?” It’s a fair question, and it deserves a straight answer — not promises, but a plain description of how service, warranty and registration actually work in Europe.

“Who’ll fix it here?” — the honest answer

The fear makes sense: nobody wants to be stranded with a car that has no parts, no service and no warranty. That feeling — “I’ll be on my own with an unknown car” — stops most interested buyers before they even look at the spec or the price.

The short answer is that the car is not shipped back to China if something happens. Service, diagnostics and warranty work are handled in the EU through the local partner. The car arrives EU-registered, plated and ready to drive. The warranty is in writing — 3 years or 100,000 km.

One more fact that takes the edge off the fear: an EV is mechanically simpler than a petrol car. No oil changes, no clutch, no timing belt, no spark plugs, no exhaust. Fewer moving parts means fewer things that can break and lighter routine maintenance.

Warranty: 3 years / 100,000 km — what it covers

The warranty is what turns “I hope it’s fine” into “it’s covered.” Here is how it works:

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3 years or 100,000 km

The factory warranty runs for 3 years or 100,000 km — whichever comes first. It is the same kind of cover a new European car gives.

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Drivetrain and electronics

Covers manufacturing defects — the drivetrain, electronics and significant failures. If something underperforms within the warranty, it’s the maker’s problem, not yours.

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Battery cover

The battery is covered against significant capacity loss within the same warranty period. Real-world degradation is only about ~5–10% per 100,000 km — not “half the car.”

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Serviced in the EU

Warranty work is handled in Europe through the local partner. No shipping the car or parts back to the maker outside the EU.

Where service and diagnostics happen

Service and diagnostics are provided in Europe through the local partner. This covers warranty work, software updates and replacement of the most commonly needed parts.

In practice, EV maintenance is lighter than people expect. Most “service” is tyre changes, brake checks and software updates — and a modern EV receives many updates over the air (OTA), without a trip to the workshop at all.

Wear items like brakes, tyres and cabin filters are standard components any workshop can handle. More specific warranty work is handled by the partner in the EU.

EU delivery and registration — the car arrives ready to drive

The car is delivered and registered in the European Union. That means it arrives plated and ready to drive from day one.

This is delivery and registration — not paperwork you have to chase yourself or wait on while authorities approve documents. You receive a finished car, not a project.

This is one of the most practical differences compared with bringing a car in individually from abroad: registration and being road-legal are handled for you, rather than left on your shoulders.

Warranty comparison with a Western brand

It’s clearest seen beside a named rival — same-class cars, both with EU service and warranty. Prices are absolute, including VAT:

Xiaomi SU7 Max AWD 673 HP · 830 km (CLTC) · 101 kWh CATL · 800V	€39,100	3 years / 100,000 km · EU service
BMW i5 Premium electric sedan	€64,000	Factory warranty · EU service
Audi A6 e-tron Premium electric sedan	€65,000	Factory warranty · EU service

Same power and class, the same idea of warranty and service in Europe. Only the badge and the absolute price differ — we let the numbers speak for themselves.

How the battery is covered

The battery is often the biggest part of the worry, so it’s worth highlighting: it’s covered by the same 3-year / 100,000 km factory warranty against significant capacity loss. Our models use CATL batteries — the world’s largest battery maker, which also supplies Tesla, VW and Mercedes.

If the battery itself is your main worry, read the separate article: Who actually makes the battery in a Chinese EV? The CATL story.

Frequently asked questions

Who services a Chinese EV in Latvia and the EU?▼

Service happens in the EU through the local partner (china-cars.online) — the car is not shipped back to China. Diagnostics, warranty work and parts replacement are handled in the EU. An EV is mechanically simpler than a petrol car — no oil changes, clutch, timing belt or exhaust — so routine maintenance is lighter to begin with.

What does the 3-year / 100,000 km factory warranty cover?▼

The factory warranty covers manufacturing defects — main drivetrain components, electronics, and significant battery degradation within the warranty period. It is the same kind of cover a new European car gives. The warranty runs for 3 years or 100,000 km, whichever comes first.

Where do parts come from — do I wait for shipping from China?▼

Warranty repairs and parts are handled by the EU partner. That means the most commonly needed parts are sourced in Europe rather than ordered individually from China for each repair. Many wear items (brakes, tyres, cabin filters) are standard components available at any workshop.

Is the car registered and road-legal when it arrives?▼

Yes. The car is delivered and registered in the EU — it arrives plated and ready to drive. This is delivery and registration, not paperwork you have to chase yourself.

How is the battery covered under warranty?▼

The battery is covered by the same 3-year / 100,000 km factory warranty against significant capacity loss. Our models use CATL batteries — the same maker that supplies Tesla, VW and Mercedes. Read more about who actually makes the battery in a separate article.

Is the warranty comparable to a new European car?▼

Yes — 3 years / 100,000 km is the same class of cover many new European cars give (for example, the standard factory warranty on BMW and Audi is 2–3 years). The key point is that here the service and warranty are handled in the EU, just like any other car.

Want to see which cars are available with EU service and warranty?

Want to see which EVs are available now with EU service and a 3-year / 100,000 km warranty? See the guide →

See the EV guide →