BYD’s Qin Plus DM-i and Song Plus DM-i models use normal-pressure fuel tanks and therefore purportedly fail to meet the country’s vehicle emissions standards, Great Wall Motors said today, citing the filing it made to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, State Administration for Market Regulation and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on April 11.

Great Wall Motors is paying close attention to the case to see if legal action will be taken, the Beijing-based carmaker said. Environmental protection authorities need to conduct a probe and legal proceedings must be started should the results show any irregularities, it added.

BYD retorted that it reserves the right to carry out legal action of its own and is firmly against any form of unfair competition. All of the Shenzhen-based company’s autos conform with national standards and they have all passed verification by the country’s authorities.

Great Wall Motor bought the two cars and sent them to the China Automotive Technology & Research Center for testing, BYD said. They were not tested according to national-level standards, it said.

Eoin Treacy's view

In normal times this kind of backbiting might be considered part of normal competition. However, the share prices of Chinese automotive companies suggest a scramble is one for market share amid slowing demand.