From a 221 shekel door to a 180,000 shekel battery: How much do spare parts for electric vehicles cost?
The Israeli automotive industry is seeing a significant rise in malfunctions among electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Owners are increasingly reporting issues with sensors, charging ports, and suspension, while the cost of original spare parts remains prohibitively high.
In the Israeli automotive industry, a process is currently taking place that car importers are sweeping under the rug quite effectively: the volume of malfunctions in electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) has increased significantly over the last two years. Israel has seen an influx of super-complex vehicles, largely Chinese-made, with an abundance of sensors and plug-in systems whose reliability does not always meet the standards Israeli drivers expect from Japanese manufacturers.
In an era where consumer complaints are exposed online, it is hard to ignore these malfunctions. Owners of Chinese cars report issues far more frequently than owners of Japanese or Korean vehicles. Exploding radiators, overheating, problematic charging sockets, and suspension failures are common. Given that these vehicles now capture over 40% of the market and have been on Israeli roads for over three years, it is increasingly difficult to censor these complaints.
Maintenance and Parts Challenges
These vehicles are more complex than their Western counterparts, and the bulk of plug-in technology is in Chinese hands. Service personnel are not always sufficiently skilled, and even importers report low responsiveness from Chinese manufacturers regarding technical issues. Furthermore, finding spare parts in official databases is often a daunting task; importers provide massive lists of parts without specifying which models they fit, making it nearly impossible for the average consumer to identify the correct component.
Repair Costs
We examined official price lists for brands including Chery, Jaecoo, Geely, MG, and BYD, as well as Toyota and Hyundai. The findings reveal that repair costs can represent a significant percentage of the vehicle's total value:
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Charging socket door: From 221 NIS (Chery) to 6,238 NIS (Lexus RZ 450).
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Rear camera: From 413 NIS (BYD Atto 2) to 3,580 NIS (Toyota bz4x).
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Battery: From 25,970 NIS (Jaecoo) to 180,768 NIS (Hyundai Kona EV).
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Multimedia screen: From 2,347 NIS (BYD Atto 2) to 23,849 NIS (Chery).
These prices do not include labor costs. Given the rapid depreciation of many Chinese brands, replacing a single part can become a major financial burden. It is highly recommended to thoroughly inspect vehicles before purchase and to identify specialized garages that handle electric and plug-in hybrid dismantling, as they may offer more affordable used parts.
