CATL is making big moves again! Three CATL Service Direct Stores opened in three days
CATL is making big moves again! Three CATL Service Direct Stores opened in three days, bringing the total number of stores to over 1,000. Non-destructive pre-inspection technology will be implemented, which may solve the chaos in new energy vehicle maintenance
In July last year, the penetration rate of new energy vehicles in China surpassed 50% for the first time in a full month, a milestone moment according to industry insiders. By the first half of 2025, this ratio had stabilized above 50%, not only making gasoline-powered vehicles truly a niche market, but also signifying that the development of new energy vehicles in China had shifted from quantitative to qualitative change.
During this phase, after-sales demand for new energy vehicles began to grow in tandem, with service network expansion accelerating. Focusing on the independent after-sales repair sector for new energy vehicles, the past year saw the entry of multiple upstream players, particularly with frequent moves to establish new energy vehicle chains.
CATL's entry into the market with its “Ningjia Service” automotive service chain brand was a landmark event. The subsequent rapid rollout of “Ningjia Service” flagship stores and franchise outlets has also drawn sustained attention within the industry.
Yesterday, Ningjia Service held its first anniversary celebration in Shanghai, marking ten years since the establishment of CATL' s after-sales business. Two major developments were announced at the event.
First, it announced the simultaneous opening of its Shanghai and Thailand direct-operated stations. The former is in line with Ningjia Service's previously announced plan to “establish Ningjia Service direct-operated experience service centers in all first-tier and above cities”; the latter marks a key step forward in Ningjia Service's globalization strategy.
Secondly, it introduced Ningjia Service's brand-new solution for new energy after-sales service—the “CTP Battery Ultrasonic Guided Wave Non-Destructive Testing Technology and Equipment.” This is another major technological breakthrough launched by Ningjia Service following the release of its “CTP Battery Repair Service” in February, focusing on “cost reduction and efficiency improvement in new energy after-sales service.” It is reported that this technology is expected to be officially released at the end of 2025, at which time it will be promoted and applied first in Ningjia Service's nationwide direct and authorized outlets.
Clearly, as a leading company in the power battery sector, CATL is actively entering the automotive service chain industry, thereby reshaping the landscape of the new energy vehicle aftermarket.
The Automotive Service World has pointed out that 2025 will mark the beginning of the post-warranty service era for new energy vehicles. The maintenance and repair services for the three-electric systems of these post-warranty vehicles represent a significant growth opportunity for the industry. Before this business takes off, independent aftermarket companies need to closely monitor the developments of relevant enterprises, which will help industry players to strategically position themselves in advance and seize market opportunities.
The strategic approach and tactics of the “Ningjia Service” system are undoubtedly worthy of in-depth study.
The new energy aftermarket is growing rapidly, and the three-electric business is on the verge of explosive growth
The current development characteristics of the domestic new energy vehicle maintenance sector are closely intertwined with the rapid expansion of the new energy vehicle industry.
Under the support of two new policies, in the first half of the year, the total sales volume of domestically produced narrowly defined passenger vehicles reached 10.901 million units, representing a year-on-year increase of 10.8%. Among these, the sales volume of new energy vehicles accounted for more than half for the first time, officially becoming the primary driving force behind the overall growth of the automotive market.
Against this backdrop, the new energy vehicle aftermarket, as a crucial link in the industry value chain, has also ushered in unprecedented development opportunities. Among these, “three-electric maintenance and repair” has already entered the eve of explosive growth.
We can observe this from several dimensions
First, at the policy level
This year, several policies related to new energy vehicle maintenance services have been implemented. The implementation and promotion of these policies will undoubtedly play a promotional role in the development of the new energy vehicle after-sales industry.
Among these, the “Regulations on the Safety Performance Inspection of New Energy Vehicles” (hereinafter referred to as the “Regulations”) officially came into effect in March, marking the first time that the three-electric system has been included in the scope of annual inspections. To meet the standards for battery and electrical safety inspections outlined in the Regulations, owners of new energy vehicles that are six years old or older will place greater emphasis on maintaining their vehicles' three-electric systems, which will undoubtedly create business opportunities for stores in areas such as battery inspections and three-electric system maintenance.
Secondly, market size
Cinda Securities Co.,Ltd predicts that by 2025, the after-sales maintenance market for new energy vehicles in China will climb to 300 billion yuan, of which maintenance for the “three electrics” (batteries, motors, and electronic control systems) will account for more than 15%, corresponding to a market size of approximately 45 billion yuan. These businesses will either remain within the main manufacturer's authorized system or flow to independent after-sales services.
Independent after-sales services are more likely to take on businesses that are no longer covered by warranty.
Data shows that by 2025, over 3.5 million new energy vehicles will gradually exit their warranty periods; among them, Tesla alone will have over 550,000 vehicles in out-of-warranty status by 2025.
Additionally, various signs indicate that the in-depth maintenance services for these out-of-warranty vehicles, such as three-electric system repairs, are already beginning to accelerate their shift toward the independent aftermarket.
First, industry research data. According to F6 Big Data Research Institute data, in the first half of 2025, the output value and number of traditional fuel vehicles declined by 7% year-on-year, showing a comprehensive downward trend; however, by the second quarter, the proportion of new energy vehicles entering the market reached nearly 10%, an increase of 2.6 percentage points year-on-year, with market penetration continuing to deepen.
Second, related developments from independent aftermarket companies.
Previously, Auto Service World noted in a related article that multiple forces are entering the independent aftermarket to establish automotive service chains, among which “Ningjia Service” has the most aggressive expansion strategy, covering both online and offline channels, and currently stands out with relatively prominent achievements.
In terms of offline networks, in August alone, in addition to the Shanghai/Thailand flagship stores that opened simultaneously, the Ningjia Service Beijing Flagship Experience Center also officially opened, marking the first flagship store in North China for Ningjia Service.
To date, “Ningjia Service” has established over 1,100 service stores in 75 countries worldwide, with over 800 domestic locations; with 67 spare parts warehouses covering an area of over 370,000 square meters, enabling service outlets to achieve “8-hour resolution for general issues and 72-hour resolution for complex issues.” Such outlet and service efficiency advantages clearly position Ningjia Service as the industry leader.
In terms of online services, the Ningjia Service Enterprise Edition APP was successfully launched at the beginning of the year, while the Ningjia Service APP and mini-program functions continue to be iterated and optimized. Focusing on core functional modules such as member benefits systems, battery health status queries, and intelligent battery diagnostics, Ningjia Service is also continuously introducing new innovations.
However, the expansion pace of most other players is not optimistic and even progressing slowly, especially for automotive service stores operating outside the authorized system, which frequently face negative news.
There are three core reasons behind this:
The average age of new energy vehicles is relatively short, and warranty-related services have not yet reached a peak, presenting both an opportunity and a significant challenge;
The after-sales service system for new energy vehicles is highly closed, with information asymmetry and poor communication channels, limiting the entry pathways for most independent after-sales service providers;
Most automotive service companies lack the necessary repair technology, parts, and even the relevant repair standards, making it difficult to ensure service quality.
These issues are, in fact, the pain points of the independent after-sales new energy vehicle repair sector today. Among these, the “pre-explosion” three-electric system repair business presents the greatest opportunities but also the highest risks.Ningjia Service's “Non-Destructive Pre-Inspection” Technology Debuts, Enabling Auto Repair Shops to “Dare to Repair New Energy Vehicles”
As is well known, new energy vehicle repair services primarily focus on the three-electric systems, with motor failure rates being relatively low. The electric control system primarily involves software diagnostics and electrical repairs, so the core issues and costs remain concentrated on battery repair and replacement.
In recent years, issues such as “high battery replacement costs and difficulty in repairing batteries for new energy vehicle owners” have frequently become societal focal points, with cases like “battery repair costs exceeding 160,000 yuan” becoming increasingly common; The incidents that came to light at the beginning of the year, such as “a mechanic being sentenced to six months in prison for repairing two batteries” and “the head of a Beijing-based repair company being sued by multiple new energy vehicle manufacturers for 7 million yuan,” have made the industry acutely aware of the high risks associated with new energy vehicle after-sales services, leading many automotive service shops considering entering the market to lament, “We dare not touch new energy vehicles.”
These issues are closely tied to the fact that most auto service shops lack the necessary technology, parts, and operational standards, making it hard to ensure service quality and operational safety.
As the world's largest manufacturer of power batteries, CATL has directly established an after-sales service system, offering auto service shops a lower-risk, more technically robust, and safer option
Given the current situation,CATL's breakthrough strategy is to build competitive barriers across three dimensions—technology, network, and ecosystem—to provide the automotive service industry with a comprehensive new energy vehicle after-sales solution.
In this solution, technology serves as both the core competitiveness of “CATL Service” and the foundational support for its service system upgrades.
Over the years, CATL has continuously deepened its expertise in CTP repair technology, gradually breaking the industry's established “replace instead of repair” model. Its technical capabilities are widely recognized across the industry's upstream and downstream sectors. The “CTP battery ultrasonic guided wave non-destructive testing technology and equipment,” set to be put into use by the end of the year, represents a historic technological breakthrough.
Automotive Service World has summarized the core highlights of the “CTP Battery Ultrasonic Guided Wave Non-Destructive Testing Technology and Equipment”。
In terms of technological differentiation, unlike the traditional “disassembly inspection” model, CATL's non-destructive pre-inspection technology enables “non-disassembly impact damage detection”;
In terms of efficiency and accuracy improvement, primarily driven by technological advantages and equipment support, fault detection can be completed in 15 minutes with an accuracy rate exceeding 90%, enabling “rapid localization of damaged battery cells” and avoiding “secondary damage caused by fully disassembling the battery pack structure.”
Additionally, CATL's maintenance standards are very high. For battery pack repairs, they adhere to a constant temperature, humidity, and dust-free environment to ensure that the battery cells are not contaminated by the environment. For battery disassembly and maintenance, there are 34 meticulous processing steps to avoid secondary damage.
Such technical capabilities and standards provide dual guarantees of maintenance quality and safety for vehicle owners, and serve as a strong foundation for efficient service and safe operations for automotive service companies.
It is worth noting that, as domestic three-electricity repair technology and service systems are still in the process of being perfected, industry standards are still in the early stages of establishment, and third-party parts supply systems are still in their infancy, both car owners and practitioners in the three-electricity repair business share a common characteristic: they not only have an urgent need for “professional repair” technology, but also rely heavily on the supply of “original parts” and place particular importance on “original warranty” services.
In this regard, thanks to professional repair technology and 100% original parts, Ningjia Service has earned the full trust of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), enabling it to inspect and repair vehicle batteries while offering original manufacturer warranty coverage, thereby alleviating owners' concerns about their rights and interests.
Beyond technical breakthroughs, Ningjia Service has also established a global service network layout, with rapid expansion of its network coverage in the domestic aftermarket, its “home base.” In terms of ecosystem development, Ningjia Service has established close partnerships with insurance companies, automakers, battery manufacturers, and independent aftermarket chains. This collaboration not only forms a closed-loop ecosystem in the battery sector—covering detection, early warning, claims processing, and service—but also builds a comprehensive service ecosystem spanning the entire lifecycle of new energy vehicles, including areas such as car insurance, used car appraisal, and battery recycling.
This ecosystem-driven operational approach holds significant implications for the industry.
The acceleration of ecological restructuring is driving the transformation and upgrading of independent after-sales services.
Industry insiders generally perceive that, in the post-pandemic era, the pace of industry recovery has consistently fallen short of expectations. The “off-season” not only arrives earlier each year but also lasts longer, with the “three new, one old, and one low” becoming the structural opportunities of focus for all.
New energy, as the opportunity with the clearest potential but also the highest barriers to entry, leaves practitioners both aspiring and anxious.
In this process, brands like Ningjia Service, which can bring automotive-level manufacturing capabilities to independent after-sales services, have gained increasing recognition from peers; their philosophy of “maximizing technological dividends” aligns closely with the essence of the independent after-sales technical service industry.
From a media observation perspective, the automotive service industry believes that, in addition to “maximizing technical dividends,” Ningjia Service's current development model also signals two other trends.
First, new energy vehicle after-sales services will enter the “standard-driven efficiency” development phase earlier than traditional fuel vehicle after-sales services.
Unlike the fuel vehicle after-sales market, which started early and has undergone prolonged exploration, the new energy vehicle after-sales market emerged in the Internet+ era. The explosive growth of AI technologies like DeepSeek will further accelerate the standardization process of new energy vehicle after-sales services, enabling them to bypass the traditional experience accumulation phase.
Among these, battery-related businesses are a high-barrier yet standardizable sector that can operate independently while achieving a closed-loop system across the entire lifecycle.
Automotive Service World has noted that, in addition to the “battery inspection and maintenance” service system, Ningjia Service has established corresponding technical service solutions around the battery's entire lifecycle, including “battery condition assessment” and “battery recycling.” The former ensures the value retention and circulation of battery-containing devices, benefiting used vehicle transactions, while the latter leverages Ningjia Service's network coverage advantage to open up new commercial growth opportunities in the green recycling circular economy sector.
In this process, Ningjia Service has even established multiple standard advantages.
According to public information, there are currently 24 standards led or participated in by CATL's after-sales business. CATL and Ningjia Service have also developed a self-researched tool and equipment system for customized testing, remote testing, maintenance, and tooling for three major product lines (passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and energy storage), six major application scenarios, and four major categories, ensuring high standards of service and quality.
Additionally, Ningjia Service has addressed the “pain points of new energy repair talent” by collaborating with its partners to establish new energy professional testing and repair training bases in 18 provinces and municipalities across the country, meeting the training needs of professionals in the national new energy aftermarket and cultivating over 8,600 industry talents, continuously injecting high-level fresh blood into the industry.
Secondly, the independent after-sales new energy repair sector will transition from “single-point service competition” to an “ecological competition” phase.
Previously, Zheng Yun, a global senior partner at Roland Berger, stated in a public forum: “With the emergence of electric vehicles, which have batteries, the automotive and energy industries have become strongly interconnected. For original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), parts suppliers, and after-sales service providers, the key to success in the future will be who can effectively operate with battery assets as the core focus.”
Based on China's new energy vehicle ownership of 36.89 million units and CATL's market share of approximately 38%, there are currently around 14 million new energy vehicles equipped with CATL batteries, solidifying its position as the market leader.
CATL established its after-sales service department as early as 2015. Subsequently, opportunities in the new energy after-sales business began to emerge, and CATL's after-sales service was viewed by independent after-sales companies as “one of the most effective paths to enter the new energy after-sales market.” Currently, most companies that have reaped the first wave of benefits in the new energy repair sector have close cooperative relationships with CATL's after-sales service.
Today, CATL's after-sales service has been upgraded to the “Ningjia Service” automotive service chain brand, integrating key areas such as “inspection, insurance, and resource recycling” around batteries, and has初步 established a closed-loop “new energy vehicle after-sales service ecosystem.”
Such Ningjia Service is undoubtedly the “first IP in the new energy aftermarket,” and every move it makes holds benchmark significance and示范 value for the industry. Its “ecological layout” strategy also warrants further exploration in terms of its value implications for independent aftermarket practitioners and industry development.
On one hand, through ecological layout, after-sales services are transformed into new profit growth points and sustainable development engines. This tests not only a company's market insight but also its ability to integrate resources and create value. For peers, entering such an “ecosystem” often yields value far exceeding the benefits of a single business.
On the other hand, driven by policy, the new energy aftermarket has begun to transition from “wild growth” to “regulated development.” Starting this year, the state's policy guidance for the compliant development of new energy aftermarket services has become increasingly strong, meaning that compliant services will become a scarce resource.
This means that from now on, brands like Ningjia Service, which offer a systematic solution with “unified technical/service processes, digital management systems, and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts supply,” will see their competitive advantages become even more pronounced.
Given the current situation, independent aftermarket practitioners are increasingly conducting comprehensive evaluations when entering the new energy vehicle aftermarket. They not only clarify business opportunities and sources but also deeply assess the comprehensive capabilities of the authorization system, while placing greater emphasis on sustainable business models and profit margins.
Ningjia Service has clearly recognized these industry changes and continues to open up its three-electric system repair technologies and solutions to the industry while continuously deepening ecological integration.
In the future, as it continues to strengthen its foundational capabilities in resource networks, talent systems, and data value, Ningjia Service has the potential to become an integral part of the new infrastructure in the new energy aftermarket.