Johnkeellscgauto Reviews 

JKCG have reduced the service interval to 10000km for the EVs just to make money. Car manual says the interval should be 20000km (or once a year).

Great service

JKCG the local BYD distributor should correct below mistakes. People still go for this vehicle due to strong global market presence

1) unfair rates
2) delay in services
3) unresponsive staff
4) communication gaps
5) non recommended service intervals

I'm feeling bad regarding the decision i made to buy BYD from JKCG. Because we are not getting the service we expected from the giant company like John Keels. Because we are getting poor, irresponsible service from JKCG. JKCG is ruining the name of the BYD Brand as well

01. Poor Service in Wattala service canter.
Only service advisers and senior staff teams are engaging with customer. They are unable to manage their existing jobs and unable to commit date or share information correctly. There is no senior manager even to contact and get consultation in Wattala Service centre. I'm still waiting from January to repair my buffer in Dolphin. Buffer supposed to inhouse end of April and gave date 4th May. But this was given after quarrel with them. And this is the 3rd revised date from them. So, i can't trust their words.

02. High Service and Repair Cost.
I have chosen EV due the low service cost, which was committed by the JKCG at the time buying of the vehicle. But now they are charging the high unacceptable charges from us. They have set new standards to service vehicle after each 10,000 KM. And Minimum service cost starting 16,000 LKR onwards. This is not they have committed when they are selling vehicles. So totally disjointed with JKCG. But I'm really loving BYD brand and i have only the concerns with JKCG and their service and unacceptable rates.

My experience with John Keells CG Auto has been disappointing from the very beginning.

Customer support was poor even before purchase. After making the advance payment, things only got worse. I found the team to be misleading at times, and communication was not transparent.

After purchasing the vehicle, the after-sales service has been extremely unsatisfactory. Maintenance costs are unreasonably high, and it feels like unnecessary services are being recommended just to charge customers more. This completely defeats the purpose of owning an EV, where the expectation is lower maintenance costs.

Customers are also pressured to carry out all maintenance and repairs only through their service centers. We are warned that doing any work outside will void the warranty, leaving us with no choice but to pay their high fees.

Their service schedule is also questionable. While other EV brands typically have the first service around 15,000 km, JKCG requires:

* 1st service at 3,000 km
* 2nd service at 6,000 km
* 3rd service at 10,000 km

This is far more frequent than industry standards.

Additionally, the cost of later services is extremely high. The 4th service costs around LKR 25,000+, and I’ve been informed that the 4th or 5th service can go up to LKR 55,000 or more.

To be clear, the BYD Dolphin itself is an excellent vehicle. I am very satisfied with the car.

However, the company handling sales and service does not seem to prioritize customer satisfaction at all. Because of this, I cannot recommend buying through them.

Service level should be improved and lots of improvements to be done and now its high time for them to raise thd service levels.

I am extremely dissatisfied with the after-sales service, pricing, and technical support provided by JKCG Auto. I have raised multiple serious concerns regarding my BYD Sealion 6, including A/C auto mode not adjusting fan speed based on cabin temperature, abnormal noise when the A/C is switched on, unreliable auto high beam functionality, and non-functioning SIM connectivity.

In addition, the BYD mobile app is still not available/functional, which limits access to key features that were expected with the vehicle. This is a significant shortcoming.

On top of these issues, the service costs are unreasonably high relative to the level of service and support being provided. There is a clear gap between what is being charged and the quality delivered.

Despite escalating these matters through proper channels, there has been no proper resolution, no clear technical explanation, and no urgency from the service team. The responses received are generic and do not address the actual concerns.

It is unacceptable that a new vehicle faces these issues, and even more disappointing that after-sales support fails to handle them professionally. This raises serious concerns about both product reliability and customer service standards.

I strongly urge JKCG Auto to take immediate corrective action, properly investigate these concerns, and significantly improve their after-sales service and customer support.

Very disappointed with the service and the cost is very expensive. Extra prats are very expensive and take a lot of time to fix. Specially a guy name Zafar the guy never responded when he was responsible for my prats. I'm happy with my byd atto and my sealion 6 definitely not with jkcg

Absolutely unacceptable. My experience with JKCG’s after sales service has been deeply disappointing, and it reflects very poorly on a global brand like BYD.

1. Broken promises about the BYD app
JKCG promised customers that the BYD app would be available, yet there is still no sign of it. Meanwhile, competing brands in Sri Lanka have already launched their apps successfully. It is embarrassing that JKCG is still struggling with something so basic while others have moved ahead. Customers were given expectations that have clearly not been met.

2. Terrible service center experience
At the Wattala service center, I waited over 8 hours for a routine service, from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. That level of delay is completely unacceptable.

What made matters worse was the complete lack of accountability. The staff selected the wrong vehicle model during the alignment process and only realized their mistake because I noticed it in the report and questioned them. If I had not checked, the issue would have gone unnoticed. Even after they redid it, the vehicle started pulling to the right, forcing me to fix it elsewhere. That raises serious concerns about what happens to customers who do not notice such errors.

The body wash and engine bay wash were equally disappointing. honestly, I could have done a far better job at home.

There was also no battery report provided during the service. As an EV/PHEV owner, battery health is critical, yet there was no update on battery State of Health (SoH), no proper documentation, and no transparency.

The waiting area experience was another failure. Customers were left waiting for more than 4.5 hours without even basic amenities like water bottles or coffee cups. When asked, staff showed no concern. Requests to speak with a senior person went nowhere. No manager was available for customer inquiries or complaints. It seems those in charge simply avoid facing customers.

3. Excessively high service costs
For EV and PHEV vehicles, the labor charges are outrageously high. That is unacceptable, especially when the service quality does not justify the price.

On top of that, consumables are priced absurdly. For example, 500ml of brake fluid costing over Rs. 10,000 is unreasonable. Front wheel alignment at around Rs. 4,500 is another example of inflated charges. Customers are being overcharged without receiving premium service in return.

4. Inexperienced staff
It is clear that many of the after sales staff lack proper experience and training. Their handling of customer concerns, technical processes, and service standards all point to inadequate preparation.

From the moment of booking the service to the final handover, the entire process was a disaster. JKCG is not just failing customers, they are actively damaging trust in the BYD brand itself.

Overall, BYD is a globally recognized, market-leading brand but in Sri Lanka, that reputation is being severely damaged by JKCG’s after sales failures. I would never recommend anyone to buy a BYD vehicle here because of JKCG’s unprofessionalism, incomplete processes, and broken promises.

JKCG were very responsive and efficient until they received the advance payment for the booking. Afterwards. Non-responsive, ignoring and inefficient
as of today. Very poor after-sales service and customer care.

Service advisors never answers phone
Extreme lack of professionalism

Arbitrary service interval which is half of what BYD has stipulated in the manual

Vehicle - Fantastic 10/10
After sales service - 2/10 Starting with almost non existent contactability at service hub to broken promises like the app, service workshop at Vauxhall st. for EVs and readily available parts to unreasonable amount of time taken for simple repairs.

Very bad customer service soo disappointed 🔪🔪🔪🔪👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎

Service is highly unsatisfied. Normally BYD ATTO3 no need to service every 10,000 Kms. But they are urge to do the service every 10,000 and taking unwanted service charges. Even every service time quite long than a ICE vehicle.

I’ve been a BYD owner through JKCG for over a year now, and while the car itself is a fantastic piece of engineering, the ownership experience in Sri Lanka has been incredibly frustrating.

The Broken Promise (More than one Year and Counting):

When I purchased the vehicle, one of the biggest selling points promised by the sales team was the official BYD App integration. We were told it was "coming soon" to allow for remote climate control, vehicle tracking, and OTA updates. It has now been almost one and half years, and there is still no sign of the app. Being sold a high-tech "smart" EV without the accompanying software we were promised feels like a bait-and-switch.

Poor After-Sales Service:

The service department is where the experience really falls apart. Communication is non-existent; getting someone to answer a phone or provide a status update on a repair is nearly impossible. I’ve seen vehicles sitting in the service center for weeks—sometimes months—due to a lack of basic spare parts.

High Costs & Lack of Care:

The maintenance costs are surprisingly high for an EV. Being charged nearly 30,000 LKR for a basic running services on a brand-new car feels like a total rip-off. Furthermore, for a "premium" dealership, their infrastructure is lacking; I’ve even been told they couldn't perform a simple undercarriage wash. Even the chargers at Keells supermarkets are often out of order.

If you want a BYD, you’ll love the drive, but be prepared for "old-school" dealership headaches and broken promises from JKCG. They need to stop making excuses about the app and start treating their customers with the respect a 15-million-rupee investment deserves.

Very poor after service. John Keells has a different more frequent service intervals than what is recommended by BYD Chine for Sri Lanka. They are only focused on more profit and unfair and unethical charges in the service intervals.

I got a sealion 6 in June 2025. I'm very happy with the vehicle but unfortunately I'm so disappointed with JKCG for the way they treat after we buy a vehicle from them. Starting off the vehicle service prices are so high compared to similar vehicle services with other agents.

I had a accident on the 22nd of January after taking the vehicle for a repair estimate they took 10 days to give a a quotation (2nd of feb) after that they said i can put my vehicle for the repair on the 8th Feb, nothing happened saying no parts. Again 15th Feb date was given. Nothing again. 27th of feb again and nothing still. After that I got the dates 7th March, 22nd March, 25th March, and finally got the call saying my parts are available on the 6th of april. But I was told they till be close for new year celebrations and staff will not be back properly till 20th of april. Finally I dropped it off on the 20th of april. The body repair centre manager who is Mr Dayan said I will be able to get the vehicle in 2 weeks. So now I'm waiting hope atleast he can keep to his word. When everyone in colombo office failed. Absolutely fed up and highly disappointed with who everyone in colombo office handled the after care.

Not organized as expected

My experience with the authorized dealer for BYD vehicles in Sri Lanka, managed by John Keells Holdings, has been extremely disappointing.

The Kandy branch showed a serious lack of professionalism and basic customer respect. Communication was poor, staff were dismissive, and the overall attitude made it clear that customer service is not a priority.

On top of that, service costs are unreasonably high for the level of quality provided. Even more concerning is the complete lack of proper after-sales support. In cases of accident repairs, delays can stretch into months, which is simply unacceptable for a company representing a global brand.

BYD vehicles themselves are good, but the experience with the local dealer completely ruins it. I strongly advise potential buyers to think twice before committing, unless they are prepared for frustration, high costs, and long delays when something goes wrong.

Extremely very bad service and no tranperncy. Will not recomanded any one to buy a BYD from JKCG.