Kathmandu- A minor accident involving a BYD Atto 3 in last October has escalated into a major controversy after repair costs were allegedly inflated under pressure from BYD and its official distributor, Cimex Inc.
The vehicle, registered under Bagmati Province 01-030 Ch 0842, initially received a repair estimate of Rs 2.5 million from BYD’s authorized service center, Superior Motors in Biratnagar. However, after the official distributor, Cimex Inc., and manufacturer BYD Auto Industry intervened, a new inspection was conducted with the insurance company’s surveyor team. The revised quotation eye-popping to Rs 5,058,823.10—nearly the price of a brand-new vehicle.
When the revised quotation was sent to Cimex Inc.'s main service center for approval, it was stated that further changes were needed. At first glance, the repair costs seemed excessive. Photographs of the damaged Atto 3 show only minor damage—a slightly dented rear bumper and minor scratches on other parts.
Even the initial Rs 2.5 million estimate was considered high by engineers, but the revised Rs 5 million quotation was deemed entirely unreasonable. What has shocked many is that such a drastic price hike occurred with the direct involvement of the vehicle manufacturer and its official dealer.
The owner of the BYD Atto 3 was shocked by the revised repair quotation. 'A service center in Biratnagar, Superior Motors, initially assessed the damage and provided a quotation of around Rs 2.5 million,' a source quoting the owner stated. 'Cimex Inc. requested this quotation for approval, but after some time, they insisted on a new inspection. Following that, a revised quotation of Rs 5,058,823.10 was issued. We were stunned.'
The source further mentioned that the owner initially remained silent, reassured by assurances from the insurance company, the third party responsible for the accident, and the service center that the matter would be handled appropriately. However, the unexpected doubling of the repair cost raised serious concerns.
Typically, when estimating repair costs, service engineers assess the damage on-site, with insurance company representatives also participating in the inspection. However, in this case, an official quotation equivalent to nearly the full price of a new BYD Atto 3 was issued, sparking widespread disbelief.
High repair costs can be expected for heavily damaged vehicles, but for a lightly damaged vehicle, such an inflated estimate is highly questionable—particularly for an EV from BYD, a company that claims to be the world’s largest EV seller.
Seven experts, including mechanical engineers and EV service center heads, reviewed pictures of the damaged BYD Atto 3 and provided independent estimates of necessary repairs. When later shown the official service center’s quotation, all were shocked. None found the estimate reasonable.
One of the most alarming aspects of the quotation was the recommendation to replace the high-voltage battery. Engineers argue that these batteries are designed with strong protection and safety features, and a minor impact should not necessitate a battery replacement. If the battery genuinely needs replacement after such minimal damage, it raises serious questions about the vehicle’s durability and build quality.
Industry experts also warning that such inflated repair costs could harm consumer confidence in EV ownership. They urged authorities like the Department of Commerce and the Department of Transport Management to establish repair cost standards and conduct thorough inspections.
Replacing components such as the front and rear bumpers, headlights, and sensors in an accident-damaged BYD Atto 3 is standard procedure. However, the official quotation for this particular vehicle includes the replacement of 142 different parts, an unusually high number given the minor nature of the damage.
Service engineers suggest two potential explanations: either an attempt is being made to manipulate insurance companies by inflating repair costs, or if the battery replacement is genuinely necessary, it signals serious concerns about the vehicle’s build quality. The doubling of the repair estimate, even with the involvement of the OEM and the official dealer, raises suspicions that BYD may be attempting to profit from its service operations.
