In the future, the key to competing in the market will no longer be restricted to the expansion of a single channel, but rather to effectively integrate the standards of original manufacturer parts, the traffic and technological advantages of online platforms and the service capabilities of offline networks to jointly create a high-value service ecosystem.
Laurel Gu, Director, China Insights
Market Definitions
The car aftermarket refers to the market that provides products or services for a series of activities after the consumer has purchased the car, including car maintenance, repair, detailing and accessory sales. It does not include car finance products (such as car loans and car insurance), used car transactions or car rental.
In this Report, a car is defined as a passenger car for private use and includes fuel cars, hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV), battery electric vehicles (BEV) and extended-range electric vehicles (EREV).
For this Report, we surveyed 1,500 car owners aged 18-59 who purchased a car within the last six years and who are responsible for car maintenance activities, with the aim of exploring changing trends in consumer perceptions and behaviours in relation to the car aftermarket. This comprised 1,057 fuel car owners, 45 hybrid electric vehicle owners, 129 plug-in hybrid vehicle owners, 218 battery electric vehicle owners and 51 extended-range electric vehicle owners.
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Executive summary
- Key issues in this Report
- Definitions
- What you need to know
- Opportunity: online platforms and the 4S system building a new ecosystem, moving from competition to integration
- Opportunity: roll out differentiated services for different repair and maintenance needs to enhance revenue and profitability
- Opportunity: win over premium users with eco-friendly maintenance and comfortable service environments
- Trend outlook
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The market
- Market size and forecast
- Slower growth for the car aftermarket
- Graph 1: value sales for the car aftermarket, 2019-25
- The market is expected to grow to RMB2.2tn by 2030
- Graph 2: size of the car aftermarket and forecast, 2020-30
- Market factors
- Macroeconomic overview
- Subsidies extended from complete vehicles to the car aftermarket, giving a significant short-term boost to consumption
- The private car parc continues to grow, the car aftermarket still has room for incremental growth
- Graph 3: private car parc and year-on-year growth, 2005-24
- Average age of passenger cars is rising year by year, increasing maintenance and repair costs
- Graph 4: average age of passenger cars, 2006-24
- Dealers are shifting their profit model towards aftersales services, driving improvements to the quality of service in the industry
- Graph 5: overall dealer profits, 2022-24
- Younger car owners are on the rise, preferring mid-range to premium models and personalised modifications
- Graph 6: average age when purchasing first car, by generation, 2025
- Graph 7: price of first car – over RMB300,000, by generation, 2025
- Quality improvements in Chinese parts provide car owners with cost-effective choices, spurring market demand
- Graph 8: domestic brands’ share of volume sales in car aftermarket products, by category, 2022-24
- Increasing penetration rate of new energy vehicles has a structural effect on car after-sales costs
- Graph 9: new energy vehicles car parc and proportion, 2014-25
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The consumer
- Changes in car repair and maintenance spending and habits
- Average annual consumer spending on car repairs and maintenance seeing downward trend
- Graph 10: annual expenditure on car maintenance and repair, 2020-25
- Annual mileage and car purchase price are key factors affecting car repair and maintenance costs
- Graph 11: average annual car repair and maintenance expenditure, by annual mileage, 2025
- Graph 12: average annual car repair and maintenance expenditure (RMB), by car purchase price, 2025
- Minor maintenance most frequent, with frequency of repairs increasing significantly after two years of ownership
- Graph 13: car repair and maintenance frequency, 2025
- Graph 14: specialised repair frequency, by duration of car ownership, 2025
- Opportunity: roll out differentiated services for different maintenance needs and customer groups
- 4S stores dominate, with diverse channels emerging
- Graph 15: car repair and maintenance channels, 2025
- Opportunity: online platforms partner with OEMs and 4S system to create new ecosystem, offering original factory quality
- Demand and expectations for improvements to car repair and maintenance services
- Overall reduction in negative experiences among consumers
- Graph 16: issues encountered during car maintenance and repair, 2021-25
- Fewer issues with smart technologies and new energy vehicle batteries
- Graph 17: car battery and electronic device failure rates, 2024-25
- Online platforms need to enhance technicians’ professional skills and service standards
- Graph 18: issues encountered during car maintenance and repair, by specialised repair channel, 2025
- Adopt a transparent service process to build public trust
- 4S stores compensate for the lack of geographical coverage with accurate diagnosis and professional skills
- Transparent pricing, nationwide warranties and 24-hour service are what consumers want most
- Graph 19: car after-sales services consumers want to see in the future, 2025
- Core consumer demands for after-sales services remain stable
- Graph 20: car after-sales services consumers want to see in the future, 2022-25
- 4S stores should publish price lists or introduce digital quotation systems to improve transparency
- High-quality car accessories still favoured; younger car owners prefer original parts
- Graph 21: preference for original parts and premium brands, 2024-25
- Opportunity: win over high-income car owners with eco-friendly maintenance and quality of service
- The concept of eco-friendly maintenance is favoured by high-income car owners
- Graph 22: desired car after-sales services – environmentally friendly cleaning and maintenance, by monthly household income, 2025
- New approach to eco-friendly maintenance: brands need to enhance the perceptibility of improvements to the user experience
- Graph 23: attitude towards environmental protection – I expect brands to take the lead on addressing environmental issues (index*), by region, 2025
- Graph 24: attitude towards environmental protection – I expect brands to take the lead on addressing environmental issues (index*), 2023-25
- Attract high-value customer groups with high-quality services
- Graph 25: desired car after-sales services, by monthly household income, 2025
- Enhance brand recognition and influence with high-quality store environments and service experiences
- Tracking purchasing habits for car aftermarket products
- 4S stores preferred for specialist items such as oil, tyres, electronics and safety equipment; ecommerce platforms cater for a diverse range of interior and car products
- Graph 26: purchase channels for car after-sales products, by product type, 2025
- Opportunity: focus on comprehensive ecommerce platforms, optimise marketing strategies for different categories
- Graph 27: purchase rates on comprehensive ecommerce platforms (Taobao, JD.com, Tmall, Pinduoduo), by category, 2024-25
- Car interior and comfort products: offer diverse and personalised products, improve compatibility with car models
- Automotive lifestyle and outdoor products: use short video platforms and social media content marketing to generate purchasing interest
- Automotive detailing and maintenance supplies: highlight brand guarantees and professional real-time service support to build trust
- Automotive electronics and safety equipment: collaborate deeply with platforms to level up and create a product + service + data ecosystem model
- Opportunity: transform car products from parts into extensions of the brand experience
- Analysis of repair and maintenance consumption habits and new energy vehicle owners’ needs
- Approximately three in ten are owners of new energy vehicles
- Graph 28: composition of survey sample, 2025
- New energy vehicles need less frequent maintenance compared to fuel cars
- Graph 29: twice or more, by energy type, 2025
- But high component costs, specialist service fees and strong demand for modifications mean average spending has not significantly decreased
- Graph 30: average annual car repair and maintenance expenditure (RMB), by energy type, 2025
- Graph 31: interest in retrofit/modification projects, by energy type, 2024
- Opportunity: optimise the digital services experience for new energy vehicle owners
- Graph 32: desired car after-sales services, by energy type, 2025
- Innovative practices: combining digital tools and transparent service models
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Companies and brands
- Competitive landscape and strategies
- The market landscape is highly fragmented, with digital platforms rapidly expanding
- Graph 33: top four car repair and maintenance chains by number of stores as a share*, 2024
- Graph 34: year-on-year growth in store numbers for the top four car maintenance and repair chains, 2024
- Market leaders leverage their core resources to consolidate competitive advantages and differentiate positioning
- Easy Joy Car Care: creating a one-stop hub for refuelling and lifestyle services
- Tuhu: accelerating penetration, subsidising small and medium-sized businesses, expanding market coverage
- Tmall Autocare: insights into young consumers’ emotional needs transform it from service provider to lifestyle co-creator
- JD Auto Service: integrating supply chain resources, enhancing quality assurance, leading in instant fulfilment innovation
- Marketing activities
- Turn technological advantages into concrete, perceivable value
- Incorporating cultural elements into marketing activities and product design showcases a brand’s values and sophistication
- Upgrades to store facilities drive improvement in satisfaction with the industry
- New aim for car brands’ aftermarket services: from solving problems to enhancing the ongoing user experience
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Appendix – methodology, abbreviations and other data
- Methodology
- Abbreviations
- Choice of car maintenance channel, 2024-25
- Graph 35: car maintenance channels used for deep maintenance, 2024-25
- Graph 36: car maintenance channels used for minor maintenance, 2024-25
- Choice of car repair channel, 2024-25
- Graph 37: channels used for specialised repairs, 2024-25
- Graph 38: channels used for quick repairs, 2024-25
- Choice of channels for add-on modifications, 2024-25
- Graph 39: channels used for car add-on modifications, 2024-25
- Choice of car maintenance and add-on modification channels, by energy type, 2025
- Graph 40: car maintenance channels, by energy type, 2025
- Graph 41: car repair and add-on modification channels, by energy type, 2025
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