Electrical car (EV) restore is more and more being described as a “high-risk career” in China in 2025, a stark distinction to early guarantees of decrease upkeep prices in comparison with conventional inner combustion engine (ICE) automobiles. A collection of lawsuits in opposition to impartial mechanics, restrictive restore practices and restricted entry to technical data spotlight important challenges within the burgeoning EV aftermarket.
The core points revolve round unclear “proper to restore” for EV house owners and mechanics, difficulties accessing mandatory technical information and components, and a restore ecosystem closely managed by automakers.
Mechanics face authorized battles for impartial repairs
A number of circumstances have emerged during which EV producers have sued impartial mechanics for performing repairs or sharing restore processes on-line. A notable instance entails a mechanic and vlogger often called “Brother Lengthy,” dealing with lawsuits from three totally different EV firms for repairing their automobiles and posting movies about them.
Much more regarding is the case of two mechanics in Shanghai, “Huge Liu” and “Little Liu,” who had been sentenced to 6 months in jail (with probation) in 2024 for “damaging a pc data system.” Their offence? Unlocking two locked EV battery packs. In response to stories, they used diagnostic instruments to repeat information from a useful battery pack to an proprietor’s locked one to allow it to discharge energy. This motion was deemed to doubtlessly compromise the authenticity of car information uploaded to monitoring platforms, which is required by rules.
Automakers like Nio have said that their actions are primarily for consumer security, arguing that authorised service centres provide higher technical assurance. Some business professionals agree, stating dangers related to privately unlocked battery packs getting into swap stations or potential security hazards like overcharging/discharging if manufacturing unit settings are restored on degraded batteries. Model repute can be a major concern for producers.
Nonetheless, these lawsuits have sparked appreciable debate inside the automotive restore business, main many impartial outlets to take away EV battery restore movies and providers from on-line platforms. Some mechanics now desire working solely on manufacturers like Tesla, that are perceived as much less litigious relating to third-party repairs.
Excessive prices and ‘substitute solely’ mentality drive house owners to hunt options
Regardless of preliminary expectations, EV restore prices are sometimes greater than anticipated, significantly for minor collisions. Whereas routine upkeep is perhaps cheaper, a slight fender bender requiring sensor calibration can price between 5,000 to fifteen,000 yuan (700 – 2,100 USD) for an EV, in comparison with 2,000 to eight,000 yuan (280 – 1,100 USD) for an ICE car. Extreme collisions may even end in an EV being scrapped, whereas an ICE automotive is perhaps repairable for 50,000 to 150,000 yuan (7,000 – 21,000 USD).
The prevalent “substitute solely” method at authorised service centres is a major motive for top prices. As a result of excessive integration of EV elements and the low ratio of particular person components price to the whole car price, changing a whole system is usually deemed simpler and extra worthwhile than repairing a selected element. For example, a standard failure level like an onboard charger may solely require a small, cheap half alternative, costing a few hundred yuan (just a few dozen USD), together with labour at an impartial store. Nonetheless, an authorised seller may quote 1000’s(a whole lot of USD) to interchange all the unit.
Battery packs are a significant factor, typically accounting for as much as half the car’s price. The common price of an influence battery pack within the aftermarket can rival the worth of a brand new automotive, making alternative economically unfeasible in lots of circumstances. Moreover, the rising use of huge built-in die-cast components, whereas simplifying manufacturing, makes localised restore tough, typically necessitating full alternative even for minor injury.
Restricted entry and possession debate
Automakers preserve tight management over the EV aftermarket, limiting the supply of components, technical data, and diagnostic instruments to impartial restore outlets. This creates an “invisible barrier” for third-party mechanics. Automobile house owners complain about restrictive guarantee clauses, typically buried in consumer agreements, stating that unauthorised repairs or modifications can void warranties, significantly for important elements just like the battery system. This has led to a debate over whether or not house owners actually possess possession or merely utilization rights of their automobiles.
Whereas rules require automakers to reveal restore technical data, their implementation for EVs has been gradual. The fast evolution of EV know-how, built-in digital architectures, and frequent over-the-air (OTA) software program updates additionally pose challenges for impartial outlets, as third-party components or repairs may result in system errors or compatibility points after updates.
The dearth of a sturdy impartial restore community can be problematic, as authorised service centres might not have ample density or protection, particularly in distant areas, leaving house owners with restricted choices. The scenario is especially dire for house owners of EVs from producers which have gone out of enterprise, who’re pressured to rely solely on impartial outlets, typically with out entry to official technical assist or components.
Addressing the challenges
Business specialists level to a major expertise hole, estimating a scarcity of 824,000 expert EV after-sales service professionals in China. In the meantime, impartial restore outlets are struggling to adapt and profit from the EV transition because of the boundaries imposed by automakers.
Latest coverage efforts try to handle these points. A steerage opinion issued in January 2025 by a number of authorities ministries emphasised the necessity to fairly scale back EV restore and utilization prices. It known as for enriching the provision channels for restore components, encouraging automakers and battery firms to open up know-how and promote “three-electric system” (battery, motor, and digital management) elements to the aftermarket, and selling compliant information sharing throughout industries. The event of latest low-speed collision check requirements and danger classification methods for insurance coverage can be underway.
Nonetheless, progress is predicted to be gradual, requiring coordination amongst varied departments and time for brand spanking new rules to take impact. Finally, many imagine that the present mannequin, the place automakers closely management the worthwhile after-sales market, will persist till rules pressure larger openness and standardisation.
Supply: Sina
