China’s Giants CATL, BYD, and Tuhu Accelerate into the New Energy Vehicle Aftermarket

As the first generation of new energy vehicles (NEVs) gradually exit their warranty periods, over 3 million NEVs are expected to be out of warranty by 2025. In the next eight years, nearly 20 million power batteries will exceed their warranty coverage, accelerating the opening of a hundred-billion-yuan aftermarket. Battery manufacturers, automakers, and auto service chains are all entering the field, while CATL, BYD, and Tuhu are taking divergent paths to capture this post-warranty service blue ocean.

As industry profits shift from manufacturing to services, the real winner in the second half of the new energy era will be the one who can accurately capture user needs and lead this wave of value reconstruction.

• Divergent Strategies Among the Three Major Players

1. CATL: Technology-Driven “Open Empowerment”

As the world’s leading power battery manufacturer, CATL has extended its reach from B2B to B2C through its service brand “Ningjia Service.” Its core competitiveness lies in deep technical expertise and data mastery. With its exclusive non-destructive testing technology, faults can be detected within 15 minutes with an accuracy rate exceeding 90%, effectively avoiding secondary damage caused by battery disassembly.

Currently, Ningjia Service has established over 1,100 outlets worldwide and multiple repair centers across China, continuously expanding its service coverage. However, challenges remain: how to transform its strong technological reputation into a consumer-recognized service brand, and how to balance investment in technology and equipment with sustainable profitability.

2. BYD: Building a Closed-Loop Ecosystem for Full Autonomy and Control

Leveraging its full-stack in-house R&D capabilities, BYD has established a vertically integrated closed-loop system that spans from battery and electric powertrain development to dedicated maintenance centers. All service outlets use genuine parts and adhere to factory-level technical standards, with direct access to core vehicle data to ensure service consistency and reliability.

Currently, BYD has launched pilot regional maintenance centers in six cities, enabling an internal cycle of battery repair, replacement, and recycling. However, its closed ecosystem also presents challenges: it only serves BYD vehicles, meaning the market ceiling is limited by the brand’s own sales volume. Additionally, its asset-heavy model leads to higher operational costs, while vehicle owners under warranty have fewer service options.

3. Tuhu Auto Service: Platform-Based Focus on the Post-Warranty Market

As an independent automotive service platform, Tuhu avoids competition on front-end technology and focuses on the rapidly expanding post-warranty market. With over 7,200 service outlets covering more than 1,800 counties, it offers “one-hour county-level service access”. Tuhu has also introduced an “oil-and-electric repair” model to help traditional shops transition, while building a product supply chain tailored for new energy vehicles.

Its strengths lie in multi-brand service capability. Tuhu has secured authorization from 12 mainstream battery manufacturers, handling post-warranty service needs for brands including Tesla, Roewe, and others. However, it faces challenges such as the long incubation period for the post-warranty electric powertrain repair market (expected to peak around 2029) and potential competition from automakers and battery manufacturers.

• Out-of-Warranty Users Become the Key Battleground

As NEVs gradually exit their warranty periods, vehicle owners face a dilemma: authorized service channels are expensive and limited in number, while third-party repair shops, though plentiful, generally lack professional electric powertrain repair capabilities—with only 2% of repair shops nationwide equipped to handle such services.

This supply-demand gap presents a significant opportunity for large chain platforms. Take Tuhu as an example: leveraging over 7,200 outlets across more than 1,800 counties and technical authorization from 12 battery manufacturers, it positions itself as a “neutral service platform” to fill the market void. This creates differentiated competition against battery manufacturers’ direct networks, which primarily focus on tier-1 and tier-2 cities. The county-level market has become a new battlefield—operating costs are lower, post-warranty demand is rapidly emerging, and early network deployment can establish a natural competitive barrier.

• The NEV Post-Warranty Market Ushers in a New Era of Diversified Services

As the number of new energy vehicles surpasses 36 million, after-sales services are rapidly shifting from a “closed, in-warranty” model to a “post-warranty, open and diversified ecosystem.” Beyond the three representative companies mentioned earlier, battery manufacturers, insurance companies, and 4S dealerships are all entering this emerging market. Currently, EVE Energy and ReePower Lanjun have also begun recruiting for after-sales service stations.

However, rapid market growth brings its own challenges. Some companies brand themselves as “NEV service providers” without the necessary professional capabilities or long-term investment. Many shops lack proper electric powertrain repair qualifications and have entered the market hastily, leading to frequent repair incidents and highlighting the hidden risks of a rapidly developing industry.

The technical barriers and compliance requirements in the NEV repair sector have significantly increased. With strengthened national regulations, the industry is moving away from uncontrolled growth, and future profits are expected to flow to institutions with professional qualifications, standardized operations, and sustainable service capabilities.

During this transition, third-party service platforms are demonstrating their differentiated advantages. By pursuing displaced competition and focusing on full-lifecycle services for out-of-warranty vehicles, their NEV businesses exhibit a degree of resilience against market cycles.

As the industry fully enters the “post-warranty era,” companies that can integrate resources, establish standards, and earn user trust are likely to achieve a true leap in value.

• Specialized in Solving New Energy Vehicle Repair Problems: 3 Days to Learn the Secrets of Recruitment

New energy vehicles aren’t entering repair shops, trainees can’t find work, and car owners don’t trust repairs. 

An event focusing solely on how to make money right now has arrived. It won’t teach grand theories, only practical, profit-oriented insights: 

True Pain Points: Specialized in treating “unrepairable” issues 

• Only 6 spots available nationwide, specialized in repairing new energy vehicle issues that others dare not fix. 

• Inviting 6 distinctive repair shops/training institutions to treat difficult-to-repair vehicles. 

True Repair: Turning technology into orders 

• Share the stage with "the King of CATL," using the brand power and massive traffic of CATL to directly convert technical expertise into revenue.

• In 3 days, accurately attract 2000+ leads. 

True Resources: Direct sourcing of demand 

• 54㎡ exclusive negotiation area, charge after the technical presentation. 

• Three-day practical crash course, focusing on oil-to-electric conversion and small parts repairs. Easy for trainees to get started and apply immediately.

  Sign up onsite without hesitation.

February 2025: The repair event was packed with people. 

Welcome to the 2026 CIAACE Beijing YASN Exhibition! Learn New Energy Vehicle Repair Onsite!