Owners of Abandoned EVs Forced to Become Mechanics as Failed Start-ups Leave Aftermarkets in Ruins

Owners left stranded as brands implode

It has been reported that a wave of bankruptcies among China’s electric-vehicle start-ups has left thousands of owners effectively stranded — and many have had to learn to fix their own cars. Brands such as NETA (哪吒汽车), Qiantu Motor (前途), Enovate (天际), WM Motor (威马), HiPhi (高合) and Hengchi (恒驰) once promised rapid innovation and generous warranties. But when manufacturers stopped paying suppliers or went into restructuring, warranty commitments evaporated, service networks emptied and remote services fell offline. What happens to a car when its maker disappears? Owners are finding out the hard way.

Costs, parts shortages and grassroots repair networks

It has been reported that NETA (哪吒汽车) carried more than 26 billion yuan in liabilities in early 2025 and had sold roughly 500,000 cars before production halted; customers have since reported running into battery degradation, out-of-warranty bills and closed service centers. Reportedly some owners have been told to foot major repair bills themselves — a battery pack “fix” can cost tens of thousands of yuan — and insurers have in some cases refused or re-priced cover when manufacturers cannot supply parts. With official supply chains broken, owners are scavenging used parts online, hiring small specialist shops, or turning to DIY fixes and hacked car-software to restore functions the dead servers once provided.

From DIY tutorials to niche repair businesses

Faced with disappearing OEM support, owner communities and independent technicians have improvised. Online owner groups exchange troubleshooting guides; experienced owners run “virtual clinics” to diagnose faults; and third-party garages have emerged that specialize in single defunct brands. Some resort to retrofitting off-the-shelf components or 3rd‑party reproductions to keep complex features running — a pragmatic response, but one that raises safety and warranty questions. Reportedly, original parts can command two or three times their old dealer price on the secondary market, and specialist labor becomes a booming local business.

Wider implications for consumers and regulators

This crisis is a reminder of how quickly promises made in a fast‑moving EV boom can unravel. For Western readers: China’s EV market has been marked by fierce competition, heavy subsidies and rapid consolidation — and where that consolidation fails, consumers bear the brunt. Regulators, insurers and remaining manufacturers now face pressure to strengthen consumer protections, parts-availability rules and industrial oversight to prevent assets from disappearing overnight. In the meantime some buyers see opportunity — discounted “orphan” cars trade for bargains — but the trade-off is clear: deep discounts for an uncertain support future.