As China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) penetration rate surpasses 50%, the first major wave of EVs is exiting warranty coverage—exposing a costly weak spot in the sector’s after-sales ecosystem.
Power battery replacements remain the single largest expense in NEV maintenance, with the China Insurance Association reporting an average parts-to-whole ratio of 50.96% for battery packs across 59 pure electric models. In practice, that means replacing the battery in a 200,000 yuan ($27,500) NEV can exceed 100,000 yuan ($13,750), forcing many owners into the “replace, don’t repair” trap. The challenge is particularly acute for vehicles equipped with Cell-to-Pack (CTP) technology—now widely adopted for its higher volumetric energy density but notoriously difficult to repair due to its high integration.
CATL’s independent aftermarket arm, Ning Service, is attempting to shift that dynamic. Launched as a standalone brand in 2024 after nearly a decade as CATL’s internal service department, Ning Service is now offering CTP battery repair in Shanghai. The company claims that targeted repairs can reduce costs to 10,000–20,000 yuan ($1,375–$2,750)—a fraction of the replacement price—although, for now, the service applies exclusively to CATL-manufactured batteries. The brand has expanded to over 1,100 service outlets in 75 countries, with more than 800 in China, providing battery testing, maintenance, refurbishment, recycling, and cascade utilization.
CATL frames Ning Service not just as a repair provider but as a means to create a closed-loop battery lifecycle. By retaining value from used packs through repair and refurbishment, the company positions itself to ease pressure on raw material demand while lowering total cost of ownership for consumers.
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