In the summer of 2022, Frank Andreas Verpe from Hjelmeland in Ryfylke bought the large car Hongqi E-HS9 in premium edition.
– We had a Tesla Model 3, and considered the Hongqi and a Tesla Model Y, says Verpe, and adds:
– Hongqien was an unfortunate team.
Already in the autumn, he discovered several faults and deficiencies in the car, which many call the Chinese Rolls Royce copy, because of the characteristic and heavy front. Verpe had to go to the workshop several times.
In the end, he tried to cancel the purchase at the brand dealer Motor Forum in Stavanger. But Motor Forum rejected the claim. He therefore complained to the consumer authorities.
– Drops
The Consumer Complaints Committee, which deals with conflicts related to, among other things, car sales, concludes that the Hongqien is deficient:
– The faults are not predictable faults on a car that is one and a half years old.
The committee believes that it has been documented that the car has a leak from the roof, or that there is condensation in the roof structure.
– When I slowed down, large drops came from the roof. It looked like it came from behind the mirror, says Verpe.
The drops fell onto the center console between one screen and the gear lever.
Other errors that the Consumer Complaint Committee believes are documented are errors in the memory function on the steering wheel position, errors in the keyless locking function, and errors in the radio – which does not stay on the set channel.
There are also faults with the matrix lights, and a troublesome cracking sound in the back of the driver’s seat.
– Reprehensible
Frank Andreas Verpe paid NOK 754,000 for the car when he bought it in the summer of 2022. Just before Christmas last year, he was able to sell it to a buyer, who was aware of the faults and missing items, for NOK 540,000.
– I got his Tesla Model Y, which was eight months old, and he got my Hongqi. We agreed to set the price for the exchange at NOK 540,000.
– What do you think about the loss in value?
– Over NOK 200,000 in value loss in barely a year and a half is reprehensible.
More consumer cases on Motor.no:
Manufacturing defect
A statement from NAF concludes that the leak in the car is probably due to poor seals or clogged drains. It can also be caused by condensation. The reason is probably a manufacturing error, according to NAF.
Four months after Verpe got rid of the car, the Consumer Complaint Committee made its decision in the complaint case between him and the brand dealer Motor Forum in Stavanger.
There, Verpe was not successful in his claim to have part of the loss in value he has suffered covered. He only received a discretionary price reduction of NOK 31,000.
Satisfied with Tesla
In a letter to the consumer authorities, Motor Forum has rejected the demands from Verpe. Verfor Motor, managing director Lars Ola Solstad will not answer any questions.
Frank Andreas Verpe says that he has been paid the price reduction, including interest on late payment.
– But this was a small compensation for all the trouble, and all the time I have spent working on this.
– What do you think about the car purchase now in retrospect?
– I spent over NOK 750,000 on a car that cannot withstand Norwegian conditions. That’s how it felt.
He laughs a little, before continuing:
– When I showed Motor Forum the drops of water that came from the roof, they asked if I had spilled anything myself.
– What do you think of the Tesla you have now bought?
– It works flawlessly. It’s a fantastic car.
Test: Hongqi E-HS9
