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The three foreign brands operate their China businesses in partnerships with state-owned giants GAC and SAIC Motor Group.While the earliest complaints date back to 2021, the majority were published this year and last as a price war squeezed an industry crucial to China's export-driven economy.Reuters reviewed complaints posted on 12365auto.com, a third-party site used for consumer dispute resolutions, and two other similar sites. The platforms require owners to verify their identity and submit proof of their allegations.In most of the cases reviewed, the automakers responded publicly, saying they sought to resolve problems.Reuters was not able to independently verify the complaints or their resolutions.It is not clear what portion of China's car sales were inflated by the insurance scheme.SAIC, which is a China joint venture partner for Volkswagen and Buick-owner General Motors, said it is committed to providing users with high-quality and standardised sales services but did not elaborate.The practice effectively disguises how much inventory automakers actually held, said Yale Zhang, managing director at consultancy Automotive Foresight."That could lead to a misjudgment of monthly demand within the industry and result in increased production scheduling," Zhang said.CONSUMER ANGERBetween 2021 and 2025, 48 separate buyers said on 12365auto.com that they purchased new cars only to later discover they were already insured by the dealer.Many of the buyers said they felt deceived by the dealerships, especially when they realised the insurance on their cars was registered in other names.Terms and Privacy PolicyPrivacy & Cookie SettingsMore InfoS&P Futures6,427.00 +4.25 (+0.07%)Dow Futures45,014.00 +2.00 (+0.00%)Nasdaq Futures23,531.75 +40.50 (+0.17%)Russell 2000 Futures2,269.30 0.00 (0.00%)VIX15.03 +0.10 (+0.67%)Gold3,309.80 -0.20 (-0.01%)PortfolioSign in to access your portfolioSign inTop gainersSCLX Scilex Holding Company 15.52 +3.56 (+29.77%)STEM Stem, Inc. 18.91 +3.92 (+26.15%)NEGG Newegg Commerce, Inc. 39.08 +4.77 (+13.90%)LYEL Lyell Immunopharma, Inc. 13.73 +1.31 (+10.55%)SMCI Super Micro Computer, Inc. 60.05 +5.58 (+10.24%)Top losersCHPT ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. 9.91 -2.30 (-18.85%)ALB Albemarle Corporation 74.77 -8.97 (-10.71%)MCRB Seres Therapeutics, Inc. 13.24 -1.29 (-8.88%)KB KB Financial Group Inc. 78.40 -7.51 (-8.74%)RVTY Revvity, Inc. 95.04 -8.63 (-8.32%)Most activeNVDA NVIDIA Corporation 176.75 +3.25 (+1.87%)TSLA Tesla, Inc. 325.59 +9.53 (+3.02%)WBD Warner Bros. 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