The Dispute Settlement Committee of the Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority has asked Kuenphen Motors to pay compensatory damages to the aggrieved Neta and MG electric vehicle owners. The compensation is for failing to deliver the product as advertised during the booking. The EV drivers had filed complaints with the Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority in April.
According to the Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority’s Dispute Settlement Committee, Kuenphen Motors has to pay Nu 30,000 each to the taxi drivers driving NETA and MG electric vehicles.
According to the committee, this violates section six of the Consumer Protection Act 2012.
Accordingly, the amount was based on rule three of the Consumer Protection Rules and Regulations 2022. The rule states that if a person commits an offence under section six of the Consumer Protection Act 2012, and if the value of the goods or services cannot be determined, a fine equivalent to a national minimum wage rate of eight months shall be imposed.
Around 60 EV drivers filed complaints regarding the price, mileage range and differences between the variants of the Neta and MG brand EVs.
The Dispute Settlement Committee rendered the decision with regard to the difference in vehicle variant. With regard to the price difference issue, the Dispute Settlement Committee found the claim inadmissible and dismissed it upon verification.
Kuenphen Motors did not comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, EV owners are not satisfied with the decision of the Dispute Settlement Committee.
The Dispute Settlement Committee, however, gives 10 working days to any party to appeal to the court if not happy with the decision.
Ugyen Dorji
Edited by Phub Gyem
