A regulation to legally safeguard Chinese vehicle owners' interests will take effect on Oct 1, sources at an industrial forum said on Tuesday.

The much-anticipated regulation of liability for the repair, replacement and refund of private automotives, the first of its kind in the nation, was released by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine early this year.

The regulation explicitly stipulates the maintenance period and listed specific situations qualifying vehicles for replacement and return.

China has become the world's largest auto producer, with output and sales both exceeding 19 million units in 2012, according to Yan Jianlai, director of the component department of the Society of Automotive Engineers of China.

"But complaints from car owners are also high," Yan said at the forum on guiding customers to buy vehicles, in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, on Tuesday.

Complaints about the quality of automobiles increased by almost 20 percent in 2012, according to www.12365auto.com, a platform collecting information on car defects and owners complaints.

"It is the right time to regulate car manufacturers to promote the industry in a healthy way," Yan said.