Can "Oil" Doctors Cure "Electric" Patients? Can CATL Break the Curse of "Replacement Over Repair"?

When the number of new energy vehicles in China surpasses 36 million, an increasingly acute contradiction has emerged between car owners and the industry.

On one hand, consumers are trapped in the dilemma of "affordable to buy, but unaffordable to repair," especially with power batteries, which are considered "untouchable." Even minor bumps or scratches can trigger the industry's unspoken rule of "replace rather than repair," with replacement costs ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands, leading to a multifaceted struggle among manufacturers, insurers, repair shops, and car owners.

On the other hand, standard lag, talent gaps, incomplete component systems, and technological barriers constitute the core contradictions in the new energy vehicle maintenance market.

Facing this predicament, industry giants in the supply chain have accelerated their exploration to break the impasse. The recent actions of "Ningjia Service" under CATL have been particularly noteworthy:

On August 10, Ningjia Services opened two directly-operated stores in Shanghai and Thailand, marking a comprehensive upgrade of its services and an accelerated implementation of its globalization strategy.

Secondly, its "CTP battery ultrasonic guided wave non-destructive testing technology" made a significant debut, capable of accurately locating damage without disassembling the battery pack, directly addressing the industry's chronic problem of "expensive repairs and reluctance to repair."

What signals are being sent by the strong entry of battery giants into the aftermarket? As the first year of expiration for new energy warranties arrives, has the "positioning battle" in the aftermarket already begun?

01. "Minor Bumps" Require a Whole Package Replacement: How to Address Car Owners' "Headache"?

Last year, an owner of a new energy vehicle experienced an impact to the undercarriage screws while driving at high speed. The manufacturer informed him that the entire battery pack needed to be replaced, costing as much as 170,000 yuan. The insurance company initially refused to cover the expense, leaving the vehicle stranded at the 4S dealership for 40 days. It was only under public pressure that they reluctantly agreed to compensate.

However, the cost of this seemingly compromise by the insurance company is often passed on to the car owner—their premiums soar the following year or they are even denied coverage, becoming a common fate for customers within the policy.

Non-authorized customers face similar difficulties. Automotive companies strictly control battery repair channels to protect data security and intellectual property rights. Unauthorized repair shops are deterred by technical barriers and legal risks (such as lawsuits for unlocking) and are reluctant to undertake repairs.

Mainstream car manufacturers widely adopt the Cell to Pack (CTP) battery technology, which improves range and fast-charging performance, but the high level of integration significantly increases the difficulty of repairs. Car manufacturers tend to opt for complete replacements to avoid safety liabilities, while third-party repair shops generally lack the necessary technology and reliable spare parts.

Thus, the "sky-high price for battery replacement" and the lack of guarantees for third-party repairs have become the "major concerns" for car owners.

Facing this chronic issue in the industry, CATL, the world's largest power battery manufacturer, has proposed a more comprehensive solution—"original factory parts + professional maintenance + original factory warranty" as a three-in-one approach, aiming to address both the symptoms and the root causes.

Technical breakthrough is CATL's core advantage. Its proprietary non-destructive testing technology and equipment developed under the "Ningjia Service" can complete fault detection in just 15 minutes with an accuracy rate of over 90%, avoiding secondary damage caused by disassembling battery packs.

After accurately locating the problem with the battery pack, "complex issues" can be sent to the CTP repair center for maintenance. This process is carried out under strict standards: a constant temperature, constant humidity, and dust-free environment ensures that cell integration is not contaminated; even the battery disassembly and inspection alone involves 34 detailed procedures to guarantee the quality of the repair.

This solution significantly saves maintenance time and costs from a technical perspective, and more importantly, it offers the commitment of original factory parts and original factory warranty. This not only breaks the industry's unspoken rule of "replace instead of repair," but also completely eliminates users' concerns about the reliability of the battery after repair.

In fact, for out-of-warranty customers, Ningjia Service has established multiple repair centers across China. There are 57 R1 repair centers, focusing on basic technical repairs, covering flexible circuit board repairs, precision repairs of water-cooled plates, and more. There are 15 R2 repair centers, specializing in tackling technical challenges such as the disassembly and repair of CTP batteries, including high-difficulty replacement and repair operations for components like the lower housing and blocks, which are beyond the minimum repair units.

It is worth mentioning that Ningjia Services has recently launched a limited-time 0-yuan battery inspection activity through a mini-program, benefiting more out-of-warranty car owners. In time, as user pain points are gradually addressed and the "expensive repairs, afraid to repair" dilemma is resolved, the new energy vehicle aftermarket is expected to usher in a new stage of development.

02. The Aftermarket Initiates the "Positioning Battle": What Are the Advantages of Ningjia Services?

Pain points are opportunities. With early new energy vehicles gradually going out of warranty, it is estimated that nearly 20 million power batteries will exceed their warranty period in the next eight years. The huge market potential is attracting battery manufacturers, OEMs, insurance companies, 4S dealerships, and numerous third-party players to rush in, igniting the "positioning battle" in the aftermarket.

Although there are many entrants, AC Auto has pointed out that a true industry leader has yet to emerge in the new energy vehicle after-sales service market.

OEMs adopt different technical routes for the three major electric vehicle systems, and their service networks operate independently. The density and coverage of authorized channels cannot meet consumers' requirements for convenient vehicle repairs.

The "1+N" three-electric business model promoted by traditional automotive service chain brands is currently still focused on lightweight services such as tires and beauty care, while the advancement of specialized three-electric repair services is progressing slowly.

Independent after-sales stores, despite actively transitioning to new energy, are seriously lacking in core electric vehicle repair capabilities. Research by the F6 Data Institute on 10,000 repair shops shows that only 200 have the ability to repair the three core components of electric vehicles.

"Ningjia Service," as a representative enterprise entering the battery industry, has already gained a leading position. Its service network has expanded to over 1,100 stores worldwide, achieving initial economies of scale. The core advantages supporting its rapid expansion lie in several aspects that are difficult for other players to match.

First, the massive installed capacity has built a solid user base. The domestic new energy vehicle ownership reaches 36.89 million, with approximately 14 million equipped with CATL batteries. This vast base serves as the natural soil for its after-sales business. Meanwhile, the brand recognition of "choosing electric cars based on the battery, trusting CATL" established among end consumers contributes to the continuous strengthening of its service network.

Secondly, Ningjia Service has deeply cultivated its technology, standards, spare parts, and talent development systems over many years, with great potential to build an efficient service system. For example, CATL has established training bases in 18 provinces and cities nationwide, having trained more than 8,600 professionals; relying on a network of 67 spare parts warehouses across the country with a total area exceeding 370,000 square meters, it effectively ensures the efficient supply of core components.

Furthermore, car manufacturers are increasingly demanding after-sales service networks and quality from battery suppliers, while independent repair shops urgently need to transition to new energy after-sales services. Ningjia Service adopts a "direct operation + authorization" model, which theoretically makes it easier to build a successful new energy maintenance chain brand.

Of course, scaling up large-scale 2C businesses takes time. The ultimate goal for any giant building a service network is profitability. This poses challenges for newcomers in terms of cost management and operational capability.

More importantly, ensuring the healthy operation of the after-sales service network requires the establishment of a stable and efficient store profitability model. The current pilot practices of Ningjia Service, along with its exploration path and whether it can ultimately break the deadlock, hold significant reference value for the industry.

Ecological layout is a "compulsory question", and the after-sales service of new energy bids farewell to "wild growth".

In the view of industry insiders, the new energy vehicle aftermarket is following the trajectory of the traditional fuel vehicle aftermarket, transitioning from chaos and disorder towards industry reshuffling and the establishment of a new order.

Currently, the market is rife with chaos: some companies are exploiting repair shops' anxiety about transformation, using the banner of new energy to reap profits; meanwhile, a large number of entrants lacking the capability to repair core electric vehicle components are rushing in, resulting in frequent repair accidents.

The cost of this rampant growth is that user pain points remain unresolved, triggering policy interventions that force the industry toward compliance and standardized development. It also compels major players in the industry chain to step in personally and address the chaotic and poor after-sales service situation from an ecological perspective.

Power batteries, as a core component spanning battery manufacturers, OEMs, and insurance companies, are integral to the entire chain of production, vehicle installation, usage, maintenance, and recycling. Maximizing their value inevitably depends on an ecosystem-based layout.

Since its inception, Ningjia Services has focused on developing its business around the entire lifecycle of batteries. Their network not only covers core services such as electric vehicle battery testing and maintenance, enhancing the transparency and value retention of used cars, but also extends to the 2C sales, recycling, and remanufacturing of batteries, providing a model for sustainable development in the industry.

At the same time, ecological layout is a complex and systemic project involving deep integration of technology, industry collaboration, and policy, thus requiring the industry to jointly create and build new "standards."

CATL has reportedly led or participated in the development of 24 standards, and has independently developed customized testing, remote diagnostics, repair, and tooling equipment systems for three major product lines (passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and energy storage), six scenarios, and four categories, ensuring high standards of service and quality.

Ningjia Service's ecological practices not only create new profit growth points for partners but also raise the industry entry barriers. Future entrants need to have strengths in technology, service networks, and ecological layout, which has become a "must-answer question" for industry development.

In the endgame of the industry, the new energy after-sales sector will ultimately bid farewell to its era of unchecked growth. After a major reshuffle, the dividends will flow to a handful of specialized institutions or dedicated service chains holding the "access pass."

For the vast majority of after-sales companies, blindly following trends is inadvisable; rational choices lie in either joining the ecosystems built by industry giants or seeking a differentiated survival path.