The rapid development of the electric car market has led to a sharp increase in the demand for personalized cars. Many car owners are willing to spend from tens to hundreds of millions of VND to paste heat-resistant films, install dashcams, protect batteries, upgrade interiors, install roof racks or stairs.
However, behind the vibrant electric car tuning market are concerns about the origin of components, invoices and documents, and also the way some consulting facilities disassemble and install accessories before the registration period.
Through surveys in Hanoi, Lao Dong Newspaper reporters noted that many electric car upgrade accessories are provided by outside establishments instead of genuine ones.Users can easily buy them on e-commerce platforms or at car tuning workshops.
The vibrant accessory market gives customers more choices, but also raises concerns about quality, origin and risks in the process of use.
Tens of millions VND pawn and trick to remove accessories before registration
In the role of a customer who has just bought a small electric car model and wants to upgrade their vehicle, a group of reporters came to Any Care - an electric car modification facility in Louis City Hoang Mai urban area (Hanoi).
On social networking platforms, this facility promotes many services related to electric vehicles such as heat-resistant film pasting, dashcam installation, battery protection and convenient upgrade packages. However, actual records show that the workshop operates in a temporary house with many devices and spare parts gathered inside.
The person introducing himself as the facility owner said that most of the components used to upgrade the car are imported from abroad. When exchanging with customers, this person introduced many upgrade packages priced from about 30 - 70 million VND, including changes in both interior and exterior items.
At Chung Auto on Hoang Quoc Viet street, reporters recorded many electric cars being upgraded according to requirements. Management staff said that this facility has been receiving roof racks, stairs up and down and other upgrade packages for electric cars for many years. A noteworthy point is that during the consulting process, both facilities mentioned the story of coping with registration.
At Any Care, the facility owner admitted that some items such as roof racks or stairs may affect the technical inspection process. When customers expressed concern, staff said that the car could be brought back to the workshop to remove the modified details before going for registration, and then reinstalled for continued use.
Not only that, according to the introduction of this facility, for some cases of upgrading the lighting system, there is also a service for renting original light bulbs for temporary installation to serve registration. "Now there is also a service for renting original light bulbs to go for registration" - this person affirmed to reporters.
At Chung Auto, the management staff also said that the additional details can be temporarily removed when the car reaches the inspection period and reinstalled after completing the procedures. According to this person, this is a method that has been applied by many customers.
Many components do not have full invoices and documents
Besides the issue of registration, the origin of components and the issuance of invoices are also contents mentioned by the establishments in the consulting process.
According to the owner of Any Care, many components are imported from abroad but do not have full invoices and documents. This person said that some products are advertised as genuine, high-quality goods but are imported at low prices to reduce input costs.
When asked about value-added invoices, the facility owner informed that not all items can issue invoices correctly according to the actual product. In case customers need invoices, the facility can issue invoices under the names of other items but still ensure the corresponding total payment value.
Our workshop will ensure to issue invoices to customers through basic items such as heat-resistant films, noiseproofing, speakers... as long as all items are complete" - the owner of Any Care workshop affirmed.
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, lawyer Hoang Ha - Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association - said that advertising and guiding customers to "modify cars and then remove them before registration" shows signs of evading inspection conditions for vehicles that have been intervened against regulations.
According to the lawyer, vehicle registration is a mechanism to confirm that the vehicle meets technical safety and environmental protection requirements before circulation. Circular 47/2024/TT-BGTVT stipulates that converted motor vehicles must be certified for technical safety and environmental protection; the converted dossier must have technical documents and prove the origin of the system and total structure used for conversion.
In case a vehicle modification facility changes the structure, shape, size or important systems such as brakes, steering, electricity, batteries, engines, and then guides customers to disassemble and install to pass the inspection, it may be considered for handling according to regulations on vehicle modification and advertising. According to Decree 87/2026/ND-CP, acts of false advertising, causing confusion or violating regulations may be penalized.
Vehicle owners who know that the vehicle has been illegally modified but still reinstall it after registration to circulate may also be fined according to Decree 168/2024/ND-CP for the act of arbitrarily changing the structure, shape, size or usability of the vehicle. The fine for cars may be up to 75 million VND for individuals, 150 million VND for organizations, along with measures to force the restoration of the status quo and re-registration.
In cases of forging dossiers, bribing vehicle inspectors or causing serious consequences, violators may also be considered for criminal responsibility. This reality shows that it is necessary to soon complete the management corridor for the accessory market, electric vehicle upgrade and renovation services, in order to ensure safety for users and market transparency.
