A SHENZHEN citizen is suing Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co. and one of its sellers in Shenzhen for discriminating Chinese consumers, the Daily Sunshine reported yesterday. The case is the first of its kind in Shenzhen and was accepted by Bao’an District People’s Court for litigation.

    The owner of a Honda CR-V, surnamed Fu, bought the automobile in 2008 and later was shocked to learn from an online video that the model, which he bought for about 300,000 yuan (US$49,000), was not equipped with a steal beam to reinforce the rear bumper, although the same model of vehicle sold abroad had the part. Fu then recalled that he wasn’t informed of the difference when he purchased the car.

    When Fu dismantled his car’s rear, he found that no steel beam was attached to the bumper.

    Fu demands that the company recall all CR-V automobiles that it manufactured for a safety inspection and to install steel beams to rear bumpers.

    Fu opined that Chinese consumers have been discriminated against by the vehicle’s manufacturer.

    In mid-July, he sought legal assistance by posting on a charitable legal service forum called e-faxin.com and the case soon drew attention from some lawyers, who sent it to Bao’an District People’s Court. On July 23, the case was accepted by the court.

    Fu also complained that the manufacturer and dealer deliberately concealed the fact from Chinese consumers and that the “stripped-down” automobiles could pose a safety threat for passengers who take the back seat, in particular the elderly and children.

    Fu also asked the company to explain their reason for not installing a rear bumper steel beam on vehicles sold in China.

    Fu’s lawyer, Zhang Xingbin, thought Fu’s requests were justifiable because consumers enjoy the right to know, according to Chinese laws about protecting consumer interest.

    Zhang further pointed out that it deserves widespread public concern since it has become a convention for joint-venture manufacturers to sell stripped-down automobiles in the domestic market.

    Previous media report indicated that more than 700,000 Honda CR-Vs had been sold in China by the end of 2012.  (Anna Zhao)