Top 10 Touchless Car Washer Brands / Manufacturers in China [2025 Updated]

With the rapid expansion of car ownership in China and the rise of unmanned/service-oriented models, the automatic car wash machine industry has entered a period of fast development. From traditional manual-to-automatic car washes and 4S shops to gas-station chains and fully unmanned smart washing parks, demand for reliable, efficient and maintainable equipment is growing. This report summarizes the main machine types, introduces leading Chinese brands (with practical details), gives a comparison table, market trends, buyer checklists, after-sales & maintenance notes, and an FAQ section.

• Gantry (Reciprocating) Type

  • Washing gantry moves on rails while vehicle stays stationary.

  • Pros: Small footprint, flexible investment, easy to install/upgrade.

  • Typical users: Independent car washes, 4S shops, gas stations.

• Tunnel (Conveyor) Type

  • Vehicle is conveyed through a tunnel while brushes/nozzles act on it.

  • Pros: Very high throughput, continuous workflow.

  • Typical users: High-traffic stations, fleets, car wash chains.

• Touchless (Brushless) Type

  • Uses high-pressure jets and chemicals—no physical brushes touch paint.

  • Pros: Minimizes paint-scratch risk; preferred for premium vehicles.

  • Cons: Relies heavily on detergent quality and pre-wash; sometimes higher water/chemical consumption.

• Semi-automatic & Mobile Units

  • Lower investment, flexible deployment for events, on-site services, or temporary use.

• Product focus: Gantry systems with modular options (soft brush, foam, high-pressure rinse).

• Why consider: Proven reliability, parts and consumables are generally easy to source; good for investors prioritizing uptime.

• Practical note: Ask for mean-time-between-failure (MTBF) data and local spare-parts lead times.

• Product focus: Tunnel systems + IoT / SaaS platform enabling app-payment, remote monitoring and analytics.

• Why consider: Suited for unmanned or hybrid business models; helps operators scale with lower labor costs.

• Practical note: Confirm network/SaaS fees, data ownership, and integration with local payment gateways.

• Product focus: Robust gantry lines; emphasis on mechanical durability.

• Why consider: Mature after-sales network; conservative buyers prefer it for predictable TCO (total cost of ownership).

• Practical note: Inspect local service center coverage for installation and spare parts.

• Product focus: Provides gantry and tunnel; highlights fast-cycle washing.

• Why consider: Flexible configurations for mid-to-large sites.

• Practical note: Verify actual throughput in vehicles/hour under local water/pressure conditions.

• Product focus: Entry-level gantry machines with lower initial investment.

• Why consider: Attractive for new entrants with limited capital.

• Practical note: Emphasize warranty terms and material specs to avoid hidden downstream costs.

• Product focus: Touchless and premium gantry models with modern styling.

• Why consider: Good for markets demanding premium, paint-friendly solutions.

• Practical note: Request demo on a paint-protected vehicle; check chemical dosing accuracy.

• Product focus: Standard gantry machines with regional distribution.

• Why consider: Often price-competitive with local after-sales presence.

• Practical note: Compare build materials (stainless vs. coated steel), control PLC brand, and accessory quality.

• Product focus: Automotive workshop equipment range; car wash as brand extension.

• Why consider: One-stop procurement advantage for workshops/4S stores (lifts + wash).

• Practical note: Package purchasing may lower costs; ensure wash machine specs meet wash-throughput needs.

• Unmanned & IoT: Increasing demand for remote monitoring, predictive maintenance, and app-based payments. Investors prefer “equipment + platform” models.

• Water recycling & environmental compliance: Stricter local wastewater regulations push adoption of recycling and filtration subsystems.

• Touchless technology growth: Higher-end market and premium car owners drive interest in brushless systems.

• Energy & detergent optimization: More efficient pumps, variable-frequency drives (VFDs) and precise dosing systems to cut operating cost.

• Modular & hybrid solutions: Operators want machines that can be upgraded (e.g., add touchless module, pay-by-app) rather than full replacement.

1. Site & Throughput

   • Expected vehicles per hour/day → choose gantry (low-medium) or tunnel (high).

2. Budget (CAPEX) vs OPEX

   • Lower upfront cost often means higher maintenance/consumable cost. Request TCO examples.

3. After-sales & Local Support

   • Check warranty, spare parts availability, response SLAs, and on-site engineer coverage.

4. Water & Wastewater Handling

   • Local discharge rules? Need water-recycling / filtration? Factor in extra cost.

5. Energy & Utilities

   • Power availability, pressure, and site layout (influence pump choices and machine selection).

6. Automation & Payment

   • Will you operate unmanned? Need app/SaaS? Clarify platform fees and data access.

7. Materials & Build Quality

   • Stainless steel components, IP ratings for electronics, reputable PLCs, and quality brushes.

8. Chemical/Doser Compatibility

   • Confirm chemical supplier compatibility and dosing precision.

9. Demo & References

   • Ask for local reference sites and request a live demo or video under similar conditions.

10. Scalability

• Can the vendor upgrade control systems, add recycling, or integrate with fleet systems?

• Spares & consumables: Brushes, nozzles, pumps, solenoids — check average life and lead times.

• Planned maintenance: Pump seals, bearings, belts, conveyor rollers; vendors should provide maintenance schedule.

• Training: Operator & basic maintenance training should be included; request documented SOPs.

• Remote diagnostics: Preferred — reduces downtime and service cost.

• Warranty: Confirm what’s covered (electronics, mechanical parts, wear parts) and exclusions.

• Entry-level gantry: ¥30,000 – ¥80,000

• Mid-range gantry (commercial): ¥80,000 – ¥200,000

• Tunnel systems (small-to-medium): ¥200,000 – ¥800,000+

• High-end tunnel + recycling + automation: ¥800,000 – ¥2,000,000+

Q1: Gantry or tunnel — which to pick?
A: If expected daily throughput is <100–150 vehicles, gantry is usually efficient; if >150–200 vehicles/day, consider tunnel.

Q2: Is touchless better for all cars?
A: Touchless reduces scratch risk but can be less effective on heavy dirt without proper pre-wash and chemicals. For luxury/concours cars, touchless is often preferred.

Q3: How important is water recycling?
A: Critical where local regulations limit discharge or water cost is high. Recycling also reduces long-term operating expenses.

Q4: What is the payback period?
A: Highly variable — depends on throughput, pricing, labor savings (if unmanned), and operating cost. Typical ROI ranges from 1.5 to 4 years for well-managed operations.

Q5: How to evaluate vendor claims?
A: Ask for local references, warranty terms, MTBF data, and run a site demo with actual vehicles.

1. Define business model: manual, semi-automatic, unmanned.

2. Survey site utilities & space: water, power, drainage, access.

3. Shortlist vendors (3–5) and request detailed proposals.

4. Inspect references & ask for on-site demo.

5. Confirm TCO, warranty, and service SLA.

6. Sign contract with clear delivery & installation milestones.

7. Operator training & soft opening — run pilot phase.

8. Collect data → optimize detergent dosing, workflow & pricing.

China’s automatic car wash market offers a wide range of suppliers from long-standing, service-oriented manufacturers to IoT-driven start-ups. For investors and operators, choosing the right partner requires balancing throughput needs, CAPEX/OPEX expectations, after-sales reliability, and regulatory requirements (especially wastewater). Brands like Risen and Leisu are strong choices for stability; Dayu is a leading example in smart/unmanned solutions; Youxi and several regional brands help reduce entry cost. Ultimately, on-site demos, local support checks, and a careful TCO comparison are decisive.