Budget Flags Service Issues with Chery Importer Prisbi, Then Promises Significant Improvement
Budget, a major Israeli leasing and rental company, recently alerted its customers about significant service and supply problems with Prisbi, the importer of Chery vehicles in Israel. In a message sent to customers selecting vehicles, Budget stated that Prisbi was struggling to meet the service standards Budget aims to provide, citing delays in new car deliveries, slow availability for vehicle servicing, extended service center wait times, and slow resolution of technical issues. Budget warned customers in advance to set expectations accordingly.
This public criticism from a leading leasing company against one of Israel's largest car importers is highly unusual in the industry. Following Budget's announcement, the Israeli financial news outlet Calcalist contacted both Prisbi and Budget for comment. Within hours and days after the initial message, Budget sent a follow-up communication to customers stating that Budget and Prisbi are working closely to ensure an optimal service experience. They acknowledged a recent surge in demand for Chery vehicles had caused longer delivery and service times but announced that joint efforts had significantly shortened these times, resulting in a substantial improvement in service quality for Budget customers driving Chery cars.
The timing coincides with a recent Calcalist report highlighting that Chinese car importers in Israel are facing challenges as vehicle malfunctions become more complex, making service quality a key factor in maintaining vehicle value. Leasing companies are major buyers of Chinese vehicles, which dominate the fleet market in Israel. The current tax benefits for plug-in hybrid company cars, mostly Chinese models, further boost demand. Prisbi imports Chery and Lifan brands, while other Chinese brands like JAC and Umuda are represented by different importers. Another Chery group brand, icar, is expected to enter the Israeli market soon.
Given the competitive landscape with multiple Chinese brands sharing similar components, service quality is critical for both leasing firms and private customers. Neither Prisbi nor Budget provided additional comments beyond their customer messages.
