Soaring EV Repair Costs: Minor Damage Runs into Thousands, Driven by Highly Integrated Parts and Repair Monopolies

On May 10, the high repair costs of new energy vehicles (NEVs) sparked widespread public concern. Some vehicle owners reported receiving repair quotes as high as RMB 11,916 for minor collisions—one owner was quoted RMB 6,250 just for replacing the left front headlight. Another owner was told by a 4S dealership to replace the entire rearview mirror assembly due to a minor scratch, costing over RMB 5,700. The primary reason for NEVs’ high repair costs lies in the high degree of integration of key components, which involve electronic control systems and software calibration—far exceeding the scope of traditional mechanical repairs. Due to the high technical barriers, most mechanics trained on conventional internal combustion engine vehicles lack the expertise to diagnose and fix NEV-related issues. Currently, the prevailing repair approach favors replacing entire damaged components rather than performing localized repairs. Driven by safety and liability concerns, 4S dealerships often break down even minor scratches into multiple component replacements and repainting tasks, further inflating repair bills. Meanwhile, independent repair shops are constrained by their inability to access automakers’ diagnostic software, core spare parts, and repair data, leaving them unable to carry out essential procedures such as diagnostics, disassembly, and software calibration. As a result, they are limited to peripheral services like bodywork, painting, detailing, and cleaning. This dynamic has cemented the dominance of 4S dealerships in the repair market, exacerbating the problem of excessively high repair costs.