Chinese-brand cars are turning up at scrapyards in Spain after only a few years on the road, according to the Spanish vehicle dismantling network RO-DES. Its director, Esteban Alabajos, says repair bills can exceed a vehicle’s market value, leading insurers to write cars off rather than approve repairs. Delays in obtaining replacement parts can also contribute to that outcome.
The report says Spain recorded roughly 130,000 registrations of passenger cars from Chinese brands and groups during 2026 to date, with their market share reaching as much as 15%. Authorized vehicle-treatment centers say they are increasingly receiving these cars earlier than expected. RO-DES reports seeing MG and BYD models that are just two or three years old, and its customer-service team says such a vehicle arrives almost every month.
The models most often reported at the centers include the MG ZS and ZS Hybrid+, MG4 EV, MG HS PHEV, BYD Atto 3 and Omoda 5. The article points to the difficulty and expense of repairing complex components—including battery packs, displays, sensors, control units and other electronics—as well as the challenge of sourcing original parts. It notes that battery repair can be uneconomical across brands and countries of origin, not only for Chinese cars.