Shanghai, Jan 12, 2026, 03:52 (GMT+8) — Premarket
- CATL has launched its first NING SERVICE Experience Center in the Middle East, located in Riyadh
- On Jan. 9, Shenzhen-listed CATL Class A shares finished at 369.23 yuan, edging up 0.01%
- Traders weigh expanding abroad against growing domestic scrutiny of battery sector capacity
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited’s Class A shares (300750.SZ) are set for attention Monday after the battery maker opened a new energy after-sales hub in Riyadh—its biggest outside China. The stock ended trading on Jan. 9 barely changed, up 0.01% at 369.23 yuan.
Saudi Arabia is moving fast on electrification as part of Vision 2030, aiming to have 30% of Riyadh’s vehicles electric by 2030. The push targets slashing emissions in the capital by half, the company said. The new Riyadh facility covers over 7,000 square meters and will focus on battery diagnostics, repairs, maintenance, training, and recycling. Ahmed Ibrahim from Saudi fuel and logistics group Al Drees noted plans to roll out solar-plus-storage at gas stations and electrify forklifts.
Saudi officials signaled their intent to expand control over the supply chain. Anbasa Kandiel, senior adviser at the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, told Xinhua the ministry “welcomes CATL and other leading new energy companies” to invest in the kingdom. CATL’s Bruce Li described Riyadh’s move as “not only a commercial choice, but a long-term commitment,” according to the report.
For investors, “aftermarket” means the messy work that follows a sale — repairing packs, maintaining fleets, handling parts, and recycling batteries at end of life. It’s also the battleground where operators battle downtime and total cost, particularly in commercial fleets and grid storage.
CATL said its new Riyadh center expands a network already boasting over 1,200 professional stations in 76 countries and 73 spare-parts warehouses. The company noted that NING SERVICE has assisted more than six million electric vehicles to date and certified over 9,700 after-sales workers via 10 training centers. Lin Chaofan, CEO of F4S — identified by CATL as the investor behind the Riyadh facility — called the project a boost to Saudi Arabia’s electrification push.
In China, the policy environment remains tough. The industry ministry last week called on battery producers to optimize capacity and tackle overcapacity risks in both the EV and energy storage battery sectors, according to a meeting summary. CATL joined the session alongside competitors like BYD, Gotion High Tech, and EVE Energy, as noted in a China Daily report cited in the readout.
Expanding overseas isn’t a quick path to profit. Building service centers and parts networks requires time to hire and grow. Demand in the Gulf hinges on reliable charging infrastructure that can withstand tough weather—not just goals and promises. Plus, stricter limits on domestic competition might cap pricing power in the short run.
Monday’s open in Shenzhen will offer the first market reaction to the Riyadh move, with traders eyeing any hint of more customer deals in the region. The next major event to watch is CATL’s results update set for March 20, MarketScreener’s events calendar shows.
