First EV Out-of-Warranty Wave: How Should Independent Repair Shops Respond?

As the first batch of new energy vehicles registered between 2018 and 2020 collectively pass the 8-year/120,000-kilometer warranty threshold, 2026 marks the arrival of a massive wave of out-of-warranty EVs. Demand for third-party repair services is set to surge. This is not a short-term traffic boom, but a structural turning point in the automotive aftermarket — shifting from the fuel vehicle maintenance era to the new energy three-electric-system repair era. Only repair shops with precise strategic positioning will be able to seize this major opportunity.

1. Build a Strong Foundation: Upgrade Technology, Certification, and Equipment to Break Through the “Can’t Repair, Don’t Dare Repair” Barrier

The core demand of the out-of-warranty wave centers on battery degradation, voltage imbalance faults, BMS errors, and other three-electric-system issues. Technical capability and compliance will become the foundation for survival.

• Certification First, Compliance Guaranteed: Ensure all technicians obtain high-voltage electrical certifications, while core technicians secure specialized EV three-electric-system repair qualifications. Build a dual-certified team combining high-voltage safety and EV repair expertise.

• Equipment Upgrades for Precise Diagnostics: Invest in battery testing systems, high-voltage insulation tools, and BMS diagnostic equipment. Establish cell-level repair workstations and adopt a tiered repair approach: repair battery cells instead of replacing modules whenever possible, and replace modules instead of entire battery packs whenever feasible.

• Technical Breakthrough Through Resource Integration: Partner with battery manufacturers and third-party technical platforms to access BMS data, repair diagrams, and decoding solutions. Join regional EV repair alliances to share technical cases and parts supply chains, overcoming the challenge of “having equipment but lacking technical capability.”

2. Capture the Market: Build a Full-Service Strategy Across Business, Traffic, and Customer Experience

Out-of-warranty EV owners are looking for cost-effective, transparent, and reliable repair services. Independent repair shops must move beyond the traditional “repair-only” mindset and build a complete service ecosystem.

• Layered Service Structure:Offer basic services such as battery health checks, high-voltage system inspections, and routine maintenance. Develop core capabilities in battery module balancing, single-cell replacement, and electronic control repairs. Expand into value-added services including OTA lock detection, battery second-life utilization, and extended warranty programs.

• Standardized Service to Build Trust:Implement clear service standards such as “inspection before quotation,” live-streamed repair processes, and written warranty agreements for three-electric-system repairs. Create dedicated high-voltage work zones and transparent viewing areas while publicly displaying certifications and pricing to eliminate customer concerns about poor repairs or hidden charges.

• Smart Operations and Customer Acquisition:Optimize service categories by combining traffic-driving services, core repair offerings, and value-added products to cover a wide range of EV owner needs. At the same time, focus on sharing real repair cases and technical insights to build a strong “transparent repair” brand image.

Yasn New Energy is committed to advancing the standardization and professional development of the new energy vehicle (NEV) repair industry. Guided by the principle of addressing real industry pain points and empowering practical solutions, Yasn New Energy continues to focus on “the most challenging EV repairs” as its core direction this year. We are committed to identifying key pain points across both B2B and B2C segments, while building a global collaboration network that connects EV repair training institutions across China’s provinces, as well as international partners in countries such as the Philippines, Finland, and Brazil. By integrating resources across the entire ecosystem—including repair components, specialized tools, and advanced maintenance technologies—we aim to link repair workshops, training institutions, and manufacturers of parts and equipment. This enables the creation of a one-stop ecosystem covering training, tools, components, and real-world repair scenarios. Through this integrated system, Yasn New Energy seeks to solve major industry challenges such as repair complexity, high maintenance costs, parts shortages, and the lack of skilled professionals, ultimately driving long-term industry sustainability and upgrading the entire NEV service ecosystem.