CINEVE | Entering the Stock Era, New Energy Vehicle Competition Expands into the Automotive Aftermarket

CATL and Dalian Detai have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to develop aftermarket services and battery swapping networks; Pony.ai has partnered with JD Auto Services to build a vehicle maintenance and service system; and former Minister of Industry and Information Technology Li Yizhong has clearly outlined five major upgrade paths for the automotive aftermarket. These three events took place within the same week, sending a clear signal — while most people are still focusing on monthly new vehicle sales rankings, leading players have already moved their pieces onto another chessboard. The competition in the new energy vehicle sector is no longer limited to selling vehicles; it has already shifted toward the stage after vehicle delivery, where the automotive aftermarket becomes the new battleground.

1. The Rapid Rise of the Automotive Aftermarket Is Inevitable, Not Accidental

Many people are wondering: why are battery manufacturers and autonomous driving companies suddenly moving into vehicle maintenance, battery recycling, and other aftermarket services? The answer is simple — the market has reached a sufficient scale. As of the end of June 2026, China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) fleet had approached 49 million units, accounting for more than 13.19% of the total number of vehicles. In the first half of the year, 5.195 million new NEVs were registered, accounting for nearly half of all newly registered vehicles. With nearly 50 million electric vehicles now on the road, demand for maintenance, repairs, charging services, insurance, used vehicle evaluation, and battery recycling is experiencing explosive growth. This is no longer the scale of an “emerging industry”; it has become a genuine trillion-yuan mass consumer market.

At the same time, another important market opportunity is emerging. Vehicles sold between 2018 and 2019 are gradually reaching the end of their eight-year warranty periods, meaning maintenance demand for the core “three-electric” systems — batteries, electric motors, and electronic control systems — will shift from occasional needs to essential requirements. However, the number of service providers capable of professionally repairing three-electric systems remains far from sufficient. This supply-demand gap has become the key opportunity driving major companies to enter the automotive aftermarket.

2. The Value of the Automotive Aftermarket Lies in Every Step After Vehicle Sales

In the era of internal combustion engine vehicles, the automotive aftermarket was already a trillion-yuan industry. In the new energy vehicle era, the underlying logic has changed, but the market scale continues to expand rather than shrink. The transformation is mainly reflected in three key areas.

• First, maintenance and repair services are being upgraded. For traditional fuel vehicles, the core of maintenance revolves around engines and transmissions. For new energy vehicles, the focus has shifted to the three-electric systems — batteries, electric motors, and electronic control systems. This requires higher technical expertise and stronger professional capabilities. Currently, service networks with the ability to repair three-electric systems are still far from meeting market demand. Pony.ai’s cooperation with JD Auto Services focuses on building a grid-based maintenance network, initially serving autonomous driving fleets to ensure that faulty vehicles can access nearby service locations and receive rapid repairs. Once this system is successfully established, it will also provide valuable experience and a reference model for aftermarket services targeting ordinary passenger vehicles.

• Second, batteries are becoming “recyclable assets.”After power batteries reach the end of their service life, they can be used for cascade utilization and recycling. Combined with V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) technology, idle vehicle batteries can also participate in grid peak regulation, creating additional revenue opportunities for vehicle owners and enterprises. The core focus of CATL’s latest cooperation is the development of urban battery swapping networks and V2G energy storage systems, transforming batteries from simple vehicle components into sustainable, revenue-generating assets.

• Third, used vehicles and data services are becoming new growth drivers.The lack of transparency regarding battery degradation levels, charging records, and battery health information directly affects the circulation efficiency of new energy used vehicles. Among the five major upgrade paths proposed by Li Yizhong, he specifically highlighted the need to “enhance the vitality and development of the electric vehicle used-car market.” As the number of new energy vehicles continues to grow, building standardized inspection and evaluation systems based on vehicle data will become a new growth opportunity for the automotive aftermarket.

3. Moving from “Selling Vehicles” to “Selling Services” Marks the Maturity of the Industry

Over the past decade, competition in the new energy vehicle industry has always focused on sales volume. Whoever sold more vehicles and achieved faster growth was considered the winner. However, “selling a vehicle” is only the beginning of the story. A vehicle has a lifecycle of at least seven to eight years, and in many cases more than a decade. Throughout this long period, maintenance, charging services, battery swapping, used vehicle transactions, and battery recycling each represent continuous and stable revenue opportunities.

For automakers, deep involvement in the aftermarket means securing the entire user lifecycle. Vehicle sales generate revenue only once, while a comprehensive after-sales service system can continuously retain customers, significantly improving repurchase rates and brand loyalty. For consumers, the maturity of the automotive aftermarket means more repair and service locations, stronger residual values for used vehicles, and more standardized and transparent battery recycling processes. Ultimately, the overall vehicle ownership experience will be significantly improved.

At present, the new energy vehicle aftermarket is still in its early stages. Challenges such as the shortage of professionals capable of repairing three-electric systems, the standardization of battery recycling, and the transparency of used vehicle evaluation data have not yet been fully resolved. However, the strategic moves of leading companies and the rapid introduction of supportive policies have already made one direction clear: competition in the new energy vehicle sector is no longer just about “who sells more vehicles,” but also about “who provides better services.” The automotive aftermarket represents the next trillion-yuan opportunity and will become a critical battleground determining long-term brand reputation and competitiveness.

The competition in the new energy vehicle industry will not stop at new vehicle sales rankings. As the era of vehicle stock arrives, the trillion-yuan automotive aftermarket is entering a new phase of development, and the full lifecycle operation model is gradually becoming the industry trend. Providing long-term services after vehicle delivery and building a comprehensive aftermarket ecosystem will make it easier for companies to gain stable customer trust and establish a stronger position in long-term industry competition. The development cycle of the new energy vehicle aftermarket is now officially beginning.