Algeria will import a total of about 100,000 cars in 2025, and China is one of the main sources. However, the hot sales also expose the problem of "the aftermarket cannot keep up"...

[Algiers News] Against the background of Algeria suspending the official import of complete vehicles through the authorized dealer (agent) system, China cars have welcomed a wave of significant demand growth locally. Local media reported that the Algeria government has provided relatively more favorable tariff arrangements for vehicles from China. Compared with European cars, it has outstanding price advantages and combined market supply gaps, making China cars a realistic choice for many consumers.

The report quoted official data previously released by Algeria's Minister of Industry Bachir Yahia as saying that Algeria will import a total of about 100,000 vehicles in 2025, covering new cars and vehicles less than three years old. Among them, China is one of the main sources, and the core reason lies in price competitiveness.

However, behind the hot sales, the problem of "the aftermarket cannot keep up" is also exposed. The report pointed out that a large number of vehicles enter Algeria through personal or middleman channels. Such importers usually do not provide any form of official warranty, and the lack of after-sales service systems is more common. What gives car owners even more headaches is the supply of parts: many China brand models are scarce or even cut off local parts. Once a traffic accident occurs or engine and key component failures occur, the maintenance cycle and cost will be significantly prolonged, and some car owners even face the embarrassment of "being unable to repair it."

The report believes that a small number of brands that have entered the market through the official agency system are in relatively good condition, such as Geely, Chery, etc. Due to the existence of relatively formal channels and service networks, car owners can still obtain a certain degree of after-sales support; However, more brands introduced through "non-agency channels" have almost no systematic repair stations, parts warehouses and technical support. The low-price advantage may be "reversed" by an accident or a failure at any time, thus turning vehicles into "cheap in price and trap in use."

Algeria originally had clear service capabilities requirements for authorized dealers: according to the relevant "Conditions/Access Rules", authorized agents to conduct business must establish after-sales service coverage in at least 28 provinces (wilayas) within the first three years of operation to protect consumer rights and interests. The current freezing of formal import channels makes this "service-for-access" mechanism unable to function effectively and amplifies the post-market risks brought by personal imports.

[Brief Comment] The opportunities and risks in Algeria are equally clear: the opportunity is that price advantages can still quickly open the market; the risk is that if official channels, accessories and maintenance capabilities are lacking, brand reputation may be dragged down by the "post-market experience" within a cycle or two. It is recommended that companies should not just focus on shipments, especially in a market like Algeria, where policies and channels are still being restructured. They should also lay out three things simultaneously: stable supply of parts, accountable warranty terms, and service networks or cooperative maintenance systems covering major cities. Otherwise, the faster the sales in the short term, the more fierce the claims and word-of-mouth backlash will be.

Source: Guangdong Good Car

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