CINEVE | Battery Traceability Management Goes Live, Used Vehicle Maintenance Standards Updated Simultaneously

The newly revised administrative measures for the traceability and recycling of power batteries have officially come into effect, and a comprehensive digital coding and record-keeping system for power batteries is being rolled out, enabling the tracking of lifecycle information for every individual battery. Standardized solutions are now in place to address long-standing market issues—such as uncertain battery conditions, missing maintenance records, and frequent transaction disputes—marking a new phase in the industry's standardized development.

1. Full Implementation of Traceability Coding and Unified Standards for Second-Hand Transaction Inspections

As a large number of early-model new energy vehicles enter the second-hand market, difficulties in fully verifying battery degradation and records of major repairs or replacements—compounded by information asymmetry—have led to numerous transaction disputes. To address the market's current disorder, a national traceability information platform for power batteries has been launched. Each power battery is assigned a unique code, and data covering the entire lifecycle—from production and vehicle installation to maintenance, battery swapping, and eventual scrapping and recycling—is synchronized into the system to create an immutable electronic record.

Backed by comprehensive battery profiles, the vehicle trading process allows for the rapid verification of a battery's actual condition—distinguishing between original factory-installed batteries, those with aftermarket cell replacements, and packs that have undergone major overhauls. This enables an objective assessment of a vehicle's true residual value and effectively prevents retired commercial batteries—which may pose safety risks—from entering the used vehicle market. With reliable data underpinning used vehicle pricing and warranty commitments, errors in judgment during the vehicle acquisition phase are significantly reduced; furthermore, traceability and verification mechanisms address the trust deficit in the used new-energy vehicle market, paving the way for a reshaping of established industry trading practices.

2. Traceability Rules Drive Upgrades in Maintenance and Repair; New Protocols Established for Workshop Inspections

The impact of the traceability system extends beyond the circulation of used vehicles, necessitating adjustments to the daily operational workflows of offline repair workshops. Previously, the industry lacked a unified channel for retaining maintenance records; workshops often failed to log details after performing battery repairs or cell replacements. Consequently, when vehicles changed hands, past service history was unverifiable, making it difficult to trace the root cause of subsequent malfunctions. Under the new regulations, workshops must promptly upload work orders, component codes, and comprehensive inspection reports to the traceability platform whenever they perform battery disassembly, repair, or replacement, thereby ensuring the proper filing and retention of information.

As a result, workshop inspection procedures now include several mandatory checks. In addition to routine assessments of basic capacity and internal resistance, technicians must verify that battery codes match the traceability records and meticulously document details of specialized tasks, such as cell balancing and liquid cooling system maintenance. Workshops that lack professional high-voltage testing equipment or fail to complete traceability filings will struggle to secure maintenance and repair business for used new-energy vehicles in the future. The supply chain for repair parts has also been brought under unified regulation; the circulation channels for refurbished cells and substandard parts are increasingly restricted, compelling workshops to proactively enhance their technical capabilities and compliance standards.

3. Data Interoperability Across Multiple Stages and the Formation of a Full-Chain Regulatory System

The core objective of power battery traceability management is to break down data silos across the stages of vehicle usage, maintenance, trading, and recycling. Previously, information across industry sectors was fragmented: service center inspection records could not be shared externally, used-car dealers struggled to access complete battery usage histories, and recyclers were unable to verify the legitimate origins of batteries. This resulted in the disorderly circulation of large quantities of spent batteries, posing dual risks to safety and the environment.

A unified traceability platform enables data interoperability throughout the vehicle's lifecycle. Every inspection record from a service center is automatically logged into the vehicle's dedicated file, allowing for the retrieval of the complete battery history during used-car transactions. Once a vehicle meets the criteria for scrapping, personnel can use identification codes to verify that the battery is routed to legitimate recycling channels, enabling precise tracking and control over illicit dismantling or unauthorized disposal. Consequently, automotive service centers can expand their business scope, venturing into new areas such as used-car inspections, battery maintenance, and spent battery recycling. Centers that adhere to standardized practices and ensure timely data uploads will continue to grow their market share, while those failing to comply with regulations or registration requirements will face shrinking opportunities for survival. The industry is undergoing an accelerated process of "survival of the fittest," marking the official entry of the new energy vehicle aftermarket into a phase of standardized, digital development.

4. Industry standards are tightening, and the "Star-Rated Service" certification creates a unique competitive advantage.

As unified standards for traceability, testing, and maintenance are gradually implemented, the compliance threshold for the industry continues to rise. Competition among service centers has shifted from mere price wars to a focus on compliance credentials, standardized services, and authoritative industry endorsements. Independent shops that lack official certification and can only perform basic repairs struggle to gain market recognition in high-trust service areas, such as used EV battery testing.

Yasen, in collaboration with the China Automotive Technology & Research Center (CATARC), has launched the "Navigator" star-rated service program. This evaluation system aligns with current policy trends regarding traceability, assessing shops on criteria such as standardized service workflows, technological innovation, compliant operations, and customer reputation. The program employs strict screening criteria—including facility size, years of operation, market share, and customer feedback—to categorize shops into different certification levels, with official plaques and digital credentials issued by a national-level industry authority.

Shops that achieve star-rated certification find it easier to earn the trust of consumers and used-car dealers in areas like used EV inspection and power battery maintenance. They also gain priority access to premium nationwide shop networks, online traffic support, and stable supply chains for genuine OEM parts. By leveraging unified compliance standards and authoritative certification, these shops can establish a differentiated competitive edge in sectors such as the used EV market and "Three-Electric" system (battery, motor, and electronic control) maintenance. The comprehensive rollout of the power battery traceability system is driving industry-wide standardization; obtaining authoritative star-rated certification is a crucial way for auto repair shops to align with policy trends and capture the growth dividends of the new energy vehicle aftermarket.