BYD EV Protest Colombo: 700 Buyers Storm Showroom Over 6-Month Customs Delay!

Published on: November 7, 2025

Overview

700+ Buyers Rally: Protest outside John Keells CG Auto showroom in Colombo demanding release of detained BYD EVs.
Court Order Ignored: The Appeal Court (Aug 2025) mandated release on bank guarantee; the agent was accused of stalling.
2,000+ Cars Stuck: Customs has held 3 shipments since July over the alleged 100 kW vs 150 kW motor power misdeclaration.
Deterioration Crisis: Vehicles rusting at port after 6+ months; buyers invested ₹4.5L solar + ₹1.5L chargers.
BYD Denies Claims: Insists motors are 49–100 kW as declared; tariff dispute = ₹40L/car difference.
Sales Boom Turned Sour: Captured 90% of the EV market in 3 months post-Feb import resumption.
Buyer Options: Refund, wait, or pay ₹60L extra to switch models.

BYD EV Protest Colombo: 700 Buyers Demand Release of 2,000 Detained Cars at John Keells Showroom

Chaos erupted outside John Keells CG Auto’s Colombo showroom as over 700 furious BYD EV buyers stormed the premises, waving placards and demanding immediate release of their vehicles languishing at Sri Lanka Customs for over six months. The protest—sparked by alleged delays in complying with an August 2025 Appeal Court order—highlights a bitter standoff over motor power misdeclaration claims that have frozen three shipments totaling 2,000+ BYD EVs since July.

Buyers accuse the local agent of dragging its feet on furnishing bank guarantees mandated by the court for conditional release pending investigations. With cars deteriorating at the port, customers who splashed out ₹4.5 lakh on solar panels and ₹1.5 lakh on home chargers are left in limbo—offered only a refund, a wait, or paying ₹60 lakh extra to switch models.

Protest Timeline & Court Drama

Milestone	Date	Details
Import Resumption	Feb 2025	First car imports in 5 years
BYD Sales Surge	May 2025	90% EV market, 10% total car sales
Customs Seizure	Jul 2025	2,000+ units held over 100 vs 150 kW claim
Appeal Court Order	Aug 2025	Release on bank guarantee
Protest Erupts	Nov 5, 2025	700 buyers at John Keells showroom

The Tariff Trap: 100 kW vs 150 kW

Customs Allegation: Motors declared 100 kW (actual 150 kW) → ₹40 lakh lower tariff/car.
BYD Defense: Sold models are 49–100 kW; no 150 kW units in shipments.
Buyer Quote (MAB Chinthaka): “We paid for 49–100 kW cars. We don’t even know about 150 kW power.”

Buyer Investments at Risk

Item	Cost (LKR)	Total Impact
Solar Panels	450,000	Per buyer
Home Charger	150,000	Per buyer
Port Deterioration	6+ months	Rust, battery drain, warranty voids

John Keells’ 3 Options to Buyers

Full Refund – Lose solar/charger investment.
Wait Indefinitely – Cars degrade at port.
Pay ₹60 Lakh Extra – Switch to a higher-spec model.

BYD’s Sri Lanka Triumph to Trouble

Feb–May 2025: 90% EV market share in 3 months.
Total Held: 2,000+ units = ~₹1,200 Cr inventory frozen.
Global Context: BYD faces similar scrutiny elsewhere (e.g., India CBU tariffs).

What’s Next?

Customs Probe: Motor power testing pending.
Bank Guarantee: John Keells is yet to comply fully.
Buyer Unity: WhatsApp groups, legal action threatened.

Conclusion: From Showroom Darling to Port Prison

The BYD EV protest in Colombo exposes the dark side of Sri Lanka’s import resurgence. What began as a 90% market sweep has soured into a six-month customs nightmare, with 700 buyers, ₹6 lakh in accessories, and 2,000 rusting cars caught in the crossfire. As John Keells dithers and BYD denies, one thing is clear: in Sri Lanka’s EV rush, patience is running on empty.

News Source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com