Ángel Gaitán, one of Spain’s best-known mechanics, thinks owning a truly reliable car may soon be out of reach for most people. In a recent video, he spoke bluntly about the wave of Chinese car brands entering Europe, warning that they could leave traditional businesses and many drivers behind.
Gaitán’s concerns come from what he sees in his workshop every day. “The new Chinese vehicle brands are going to end the business for a lot of people, because these are cars made to be used and thrown away,” he says. He compares the trend to buying a smartphone: “You know it will last two, three, four, maybe five years at best, and then you have to replace it.”
Information from UBS estimates, Chinese automakers already hold about 8% of the European market and could reach 20% by 2030.
Source: UBS
He says Chinese cars are now everywhere, with Omoda and Jaecoo, alongside BYD and Geely, filling TV ads as European brands fade from view. Gaitán says manufacturers aren’t the only ones responsible for the shift: he also blames European consumers and industry leaders for failing to keep up.
Price is the basic draw. Chinese cars cost much less than European models, attracting buyers who are watching their budgets. But Gaitán warns that the low price hides a bigger problem: when something breaks, manufacturers often replace entire sections, sometimes the whole front end, wheels included, instead of fixing only the broken part. “There’s no longer enough skilled personnel to work on these cars in detail,” he says.
This repair model is changing the business. Workshops that once fixed all kinds of cars now mostly swap out large modules, leaving fewer skilled jobs and less hands-on work.
In June, Chinese brands captured 34% of the European plug-in hybrid (PHEV) market, with BYD and Chery leading the segment. The European Commission has responded to the rapid growth of Chinese electric vehicles by imposing countervailing duties of up to 35.3% on certain brands, also to the standard 10% import tariff.
Source: European Commission
Gaitán’s outlook is clear: “We’re heading to a point where those who can afford a truly good car will be very privileged. The rest will have to rely on app-based rentals or public transport, unwilling to commit to a product that could fail unpredictably.”
His concerns feed into a wider debate about the future of car ownership in Europe. A recent report notes that transparency and reliability are already major concerns for used car buyers in Spain. The rise of disposable vehicles could make matters worse.
Gaitán’s warning reaches beyond mechanics and car dealers. He wants consumers to understand where the market is heading. Cheaper, less durable cars might save money now, but they could spell the end of the long-lasting vehicles that once defined European roads. As Chinese brands expand, the idea of what makes a “good” car in Europe is changing fast. Drivers with durable, repairable cars may find themselves in a shrinking minority.
