On June 5, 2026, Great Wall Motor Chairman Wei Jianjun publicly blasted the "minor illness major repair" grey chain in the automotive after-sales industry during his own livestream. Wei bluntly stated "I'm really scared," exposing how some 4S shops and repair institutions profiteer through falsely reporting faults, exaggerating repair scopes, and substituting aftermarket parts for OEM parts. This incident quickly sparked industry-wide discussion and once again pushed China's automotive after-sales service trust crisis to the forefront.
Wei Jianjun's "Blast": An After-Sales Earthquake Triggered by a Livestream
On June 5, 2026, Great Wall Motor Chairman Wei Jianjun made a rare move during his own livestream—publicly exposing the grey chain in the automotive after-sales repair industry. The livestream quickly fermented on social media with a title directly targeting industry pain points: "How Much Does the 'Minor Illness Major Repair' Grey Chain Cheat People?"
Four Major Tricks of "Minor Illness Major Repair"
Wei Jianjun revealed in the livestream the widespread "minor illness major repair" phenomenon in the automotive after-sales industry, specifically manifested as:
| Trick Type | Operation Method | Consumer Loss |
|---|---|---|
| False Fault Reporting | Describing normal wear as serious faults | Paying unnecessary high repair fees |
| Exaggerating Repair Scope | Requiring entire system replacement for single fault | Repair costs doubling or more |
| Passing Off Inferior Goods | Aftermarket parts posing as OEM parts | Paying OEM prices for aftermarket quality |
| Over-Maintenance | Shortening maintenance cycles, pushing unnecessary items | Increasing无效 maintenance expenses |
Why Did GWM Step Forward?
Great Wall Motor's choice to have the chairman personally expose industry black boxes has deep considerations behind it:
- Brand Trust Building: As a leading self-brand enterprise, GWM hopes to build deep trust with consumers through transparent services
- Industry Responsibility Drive: Wei Jianjun has repeatedly emphasized in public that "for China's auto industry to develop healthily, after-sales cannot hold it back"
- Differentiated Competition: As price wars intensify, after-sales service transparency becomes a new competitive dimension
Five Tips to Avoid Pitfalls
Industry experts suggest the following for consumers to guard against "minor illness major repair":
- Preserve Evidence: Before repair, require 4S shops to list in writing the fault causes and repair items
- Compare Multiple Quotes: Consult 2-3 repair institutions for the same fault, compare quote differences
- Inspect Parts: Request to see replaced old parts, verify new part packaging and anti-counterfeit labels
- Leverage Warranty: Make full use of manufacturer warranty and extended warranty policies, refuse unnecessary paid repairs
- Choose Transparent Channels: Prioritize institutions offering maintenance process visualization and parts traceability
Industry Transformation Signals
Wei Jianjun's "blast" is not just a personal voice but likely the prelude to transformation in China's automotive after-sales service industry:
- Digital Supervision: More and more automakers are implementing full maintenance records and full parts traceability
- Direct Sales Model Rise: New force brands are impacting traditional 4S shop systems with direct sales + transparent pricing models
- Third-Party Certification: Independent third-party maintenance platforms are building trust endorsements through standardized services
For buyers in Central Asia and Russia, this incident sends an important signal: Chinese automakers are shifting from "selling cars" to "selling services," and the transparency and standardization of after-sales service will become a core dimension of future competition. The service promises behind Chinese models sourced through platforms like EX1000.COM are undergoing a qualitative change from "slogans" to "systems."
