BAD AFTER SALES SERVICE AND NO RESPONSE FROM BAIC

My wife bought the top-of-the-range BAIC B40 2.0T Champion Plus from the Group 1 Strand dealership at the end of February 2024.

The only reason for my 2-star rating instead of the minimum of 1 is that the salesman Juan at Group 1 Strand, albeit new in his position and not very clued up on the BAIC B40 at the time, was responsive and helpful throughout my wife’s ordeal.

For those interested in all the facts, I urge you to read my review, for others, we do not recommend Group 1 or the BAIC B40 given our bad experience, especially from their management’s ignorance towards the problems experienced.

Most of the BAIC B40 interior, especially the sound system, seats and audio are of inferior quality when compared to the GWM Tank 300 which costs slightly more and is also superior to the BAIC B40 in all respects. It is just a pity that my wife did not know about the Tank 300 at the time.

On the afternoon of the delivery, we were met and warmly welcomed by the salesman Juan and later his sales manager (I think his name is Andre?) joined in.

We were surprised that the registration papers and temporary number plates were not ready although my wife was told it would be.

Upon inspection, we pointed out that the main glass console panel above the driver’s seat was full of moisture and one could not clearly see any of the important display information. Juan tried wiping it with a cloth but it was clear that the moisture was inside. We agreed to wait a few days to see if it cleared up.

Whilst we waited, the sales manager Andre, reiterated how Group 1 prides themselves on their after-sales service and how fantastic the BAIC B40 is.

After a nearly 2-hour wait and excuse upon excuse, we were given the temporary license.

The next morning the BAIC’s battery was completely flat. Juan came to the rescue with a battery charger and the BAIC was up and running again.

IT IS EVIDENT FROM THE ABOVE THAT A QUALITY INSPECTION WAS NOT PERFORMED BY GROUP 1 BEFORE THE DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE.

The battery was flat again the following day and Jean then agreed that the battery had to be replaced. He then took the vehicle to the workshop to have the battery replaced and a towbar fitted which was ordered with the BAIC but not fitted on time.

Juan informed us that the towbar installation was delayed and may only be done in a week, and as we had to return to our farm, we left without my wife’s newly bought BAIC.

By then it was also evident that the main console glass screen was damaged by moisture and had to be replaced. The first replacement glass that arrived was for a different model and then it took nearly another month for the actual glass to arrive.

The BAIC was finally delivered to our farm a week later. My wife then drove it for the first time on our well-used gravel roads and found the BAIC to be very unstable when compared to her 12-year-old Ford Kuga and my 8-year-old Subaru Forester. The suspension of the BAIC is very firm and the rear of the vehicle slides easily on unstable surfaces. We tested all the available settings for offroad driving and none improved the experience.

We later learned that independent tests proved the “instability” of the BAIC B40 SEE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnCOX-oor0M

My wife felt unsafe driving the BAIC on gravel roads and brought it to Group 1 Strand’s attention which was abdicated to BAIC without any response from them to date.

My wife then emailed the Group 1 national Managing Director and he did not even have the professional courtesy to respond. The Group 1 Strand Dealer principal Johann Rheeder finally responded and again passed the buck to BAIC.

Why do I say Group 1 should have taken responsibility? – My wife clearly stated to the salesman Juan that she needed a vehicle that was very stable and safe in general and specifically on gravel roads and he and his manager Andre confirmed that the BAIC B40 is.

My wife also requested that they make her an offer to buy the BAIC back which Group 1 declined.

This clearly shows the confidence they have in the products that they sell.