Research on China's Automotive Aftersales Industry in 2025

The automotive after-sales service industry, as a crucial link in the automotive industrial chain, is booming at an unprecedented speed. With the growth of China's economy and the increase in the number of cars in use, more and more consumers are beginning to pay attention to automotive after-sales services, and the automotive after-sales service industry is facing broad prospects for development. 

I. Analysis of the Current Development Status of the Automotive After-sales Service Industry 

(1) Industry Overview 

The automotive after-sales service industry is experiencing unprecedented development opportunities, mainly due to the continuous increase in the number of cars in China and the rising demand for high-quality services from consumers. Data shows that the scale of China's automotive aftermarket (including after-sales services) has reached 7.5 trillion yuan in 2024 and is expected to maintain a growth trend in the coming years. 

The diversification of service content is a major feature of the automotive after-sales service industry. It covers various services and supports throughout the entire vehicle usage cycle, starting from the vehicle's delivery to the customer, including vehicle maintenance and repair, spare parts supply, technical consultation and support, and more. Among them, maintenance and repair services are one of the sub-sectors with the most rigid demand and relatively high consumption frequency in the consumer's vehicle usage life cycle. 

However, at present, the market concentration of the automotive after-sales service industry in China is not high. There are a large number of service providers such as repair shops and 4S stores, and the competition is fierce. Meanwhile, regional chain brands have begun to emerge, but overall, the market still shows the characteristics of small scale and dispersion. The technical levels also vary greatly. Some high-end brands and service providers have advanced maintenance equipment and professional technicians, while some low-end service providers may lack the necessary technology and equipment. 

With the continuous expansion of the new energy vehicle market, the after-sales service market for new energy vehicles is also gradually emerging. The particularity of new energy vehicles has put forward new requirements for after-sales services, such as battery warranty, construction and maintenance of charging facilities, software upgrades, etc., bringing new opportunities to the industry. Digital transformation has also become the inevitable path for enterprises to transform and upgrade. Through digital means, service efficiency and quality can be improved, and customer experience can be optimized. For example, big data and artificial intelligence technologies can be used for fault diagnosis and predictive maintenance to improve the accuracy and timeliness of services. Service standardization and normalization have also been put on the agenda. To improve service quality, some automotive after-sales service enterprises have begun to promote the work of service standardization and normalization. By formulating unified service standards and processes, the replicability and measurability of services can be enhanced, thereby increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty. 

(II) Market Size and Consumption Characteristics 

As one of the world's largest automotive after-sales service markets, China's market size continues to expand. In 2024, the scale of China's automotive aftermarket (including after-sales services) has reached 7.5 trillion yuan, demonstrating a strong growth momentum. This growth is mainly attributed to the continuous increase in the number of cars in China and the rising demand for automotive services from consumers. 

In the segmented market of scale, maintenance and repair services occupy a core position and are essential services throughout the consumer's vehicle life cycle. Meanwhile, derived demands such as parts sales and beauty and modification services are also heating up. For instance, personalized parts like car refrigerators and dash cameras, as well as derivative products like dolls and watches launched by car manufacturers, are emerging as new growth points. 

II. Market Size Analysis of the Automotive After-sales Service Industry 

(1) Global Market Overview 

The global automotive after-sales service market is continuously expanding, with China and India in the Asia-Pacific region serving as the core driving forces. With the increase in global car ownership and the rising demand for high-quality services from consumers, the global automotive after-sales service market is expected to maintain a growth trend. It is projected that by 2030, the global automotive after-sales service market will reach a significant scale. 

According to the "2024-2029 China Auto After-sales Service Industry In-depth Research and Development Prospect Forecast Report" released by the China Research and Analysis Industry Research Institute: 

(II) Development of the Chinese Market 

In the Chinese market, the investment scale in the automotive after-sales service industry has been continuously growing. By 2024, the scale of China's automotive aftermarket (including after-sales services) has reached 7.5 trillion yuan, demonstrating a strong growth momentum. This growth is mainly attributed to the continuous increase in the number of cars in China and the rising demand for automotive services from consumers. In the细分领域 of the market size, maintenance and repair services occupy a core position and are essential services throughout the vehicle's life cycle for consumers. At the same time, the demand for derivative services such as parts sales and beauty and modification is also continuously heating up. 

(III) Demand in Sub-sectors 

In terms of demand in the market，the automotive after-sales service industry shows a diversified characteristic. Maintenance and repair services, as essential services， occupy a core position. Meanwhile， the demand for derivative services such as parts sales and beauty and modification continues to rise. With the improvement of consumers' demand for high-quality services， the demand for personalized services is increasing, and customized repair plans and exclusive customer care have become trends. 

III. Analysis of the Future Development Prospects of the Automotive After-sales Service Industry 

(1) Continuous growth in market demand 

With the acceleration of the globalization process and the upgrading of consumer demands, the demand for the automotive after-sales service industry will continue to grow. It is expected that by 2030, the global automotive after-sales service market size will reach a significant level, and the Chinese market will also maintain a stable growth trend. Especially with the continuous expansion of the new energy vehicle market and the continuous progress of technology, the automotive after-sales service industry will face greater market demands. 

(II) Technological Innovation Drives Development 

Technological innovation will become the main driving force for the development of the automotive after-sales service industry. The rapid development of technologies such as the Internet, big data, and the Internet of Things will promote the digital transformation and intelligent upgrading of automotive after-sales services. For instance, by leveraging big data and artificial intelligence for fault diagnosis and predictive maintenance, the accuracy and timeliness of services can be enhanced; through digital transformation, service processes can be optimized and customer experience improved. 

The support of policies and regulations will also provide a strong guarantee for the development of the automotive after-sales service industry. The government will continue to increase investment in the automotive after-sales service industry and promote its sustained and healthy development. At the same time, the government will also strengthen industry supervision to ensure the safety and environmental protection of automotive after-sales service design and operation. With the increasingly close connection of the global market, the automotive after-sales service industry will gradually break through geographical restrictions and form a cross-national and cross-regional cooperation model. This will bring broader market space for Chinese automotive after-sales service enterprises, and at the same time, it requires enterprises to enhance their international competitiveness and strengthen exchanges and cooperation with international partners. 

IV. Conclusion 

As an important link in the automotive industry chain, the automotive after-sales service industry is booming at an unprecedented speed. From the current situation of the industry, the automotive after-sales service industry in China has experienced remarkable development, but still faces some challenges. 

In terms of market size, both the global and Chinese markets have continued to grow, with significant increases in areas such as maintenance and repair services, parts sales, and beauty and modification. Looking at the future prospects, market demand is expected to keep growing, technological innovation will drive the development of the industry, and support from policies and regulations will also provide a strong guarantee for the industry.