GAC Emzoom experience

I recently purchased a brand-new GAC EmZoom R-Style from GAC Bloemfontein / Eerste Geluk Motors, and what should have been one of the most exciting moments of my life turned into a deeply frustrating and disappointing ordeal.

1. False Promises and Long Delays From the start, communication was poor and misleading. I was repeatedly told the car would be ready on specific days – first Friday, then Tuesday, then the following Friday – only to wait over three weeks before the vehicle was finally handed over. If there were genuine delays, honest communication would have been appreciated. Instead, I was met with repeated excuses and promises that never materialised.

2. Faulty Vehicle Features and Poor Follow-Up When I eventually received the car, several features were not functioning as expected. I had to return the car twice for them to attempt fixes. The first time, they claimed they couldn’t “communicate with China” to update the systems. The second time, despite my dropping the car off early as requested, I was only contacted after 2 PM and told that it was a public holiday in China, so nothing could be done.

Each visit required significant planning, disrupted my schedule, and created unnecessary inconvenience. What’s worse is that the problem is still not resolved to this day. I honestly do not want to go back to GAC Bloemfontein ever again. The level of service has left me with no confidence in their workshop’s capabilities. I am now desperately seeking any other GAC dealership near Bloemfontein that can help me resolve the issue — because I refuse to put myself through this experience again.

3. License Plate Issues & Administrative Failures Even after purchase, I had to chase them for my permanent number plates after the temporary ones expired. Instead of proactively managing this basic administrative task, I had to phone multiple times and rearrange everything myself. They even expected me to collect the plates, despite the inconvenience caused by their delays.

4. Disorganised Operations & Unprofessional Behaviour The fact that the workshop and showroom are on separate premises meant multiple unnecessary trips back and forth. During one visit, I asked if a driver could drop me at home. While they agreed, the driver’s behaviour was extremely unprofessional – shouting at people in the street and blasting loud music. Later, when I requested that the car be dropped off at my home to save time, the driver arrived honking in front of my house and expected me to drive him back because he had no phone. I had to call the dealership to arrange for someone to collect him, only to be told they thought I would provide the return lift – an unreasonable and illogical expectation for any client.

5. Poor Vehicle Presentation and Lack of Care Even the simplest part of the experience – receiving a clean, new car – was done half-heartedly. The “washed” car was still covered in dust and dirt, which the driver himself pointed out. To make matters worse, he casually mentioned he needed to remove his plants from the car, implying he had used my brand-new vehicle for personal errands before delivery.

6. The Car Itself: Brilliant Product, Terrible Service Here’s the most frustrating part: the car itself is absolutely incredible. It exceeds every expectation I had in terms of performance, technology, comfort, and design. It’s truly an outstanding vehicle and a product I was proud to own.

But because of this dealership’s shocking service and complete lack of professionalism, I am now at the point where I’m seriously considering returning the car altogether. The thought of having to deal with this team for the next five years — for servicing, warranty claims, or any future issues — fills me with anxiety and regret. A great product means nothing if it’s backed by such poor after-sales support.

Final Thoughts: This entire experience has been disappointing from start to finish – marked by false promises, poor communication, unresolved problems, unprofessional behaviour, and zero customer care. Buying a new car should be a joyful milestone, but this dealership turned it into a source of stress and frustration.

I sincerely hope GAC Bloemfontein and Eerste Geluk Motors take this feedback seriously, retrain their staff, improve communication, and completely rethink how they treat their customers. Until then, I strongly advise prospective buyers to look for another GAC dealership — I certainly will be doing that.