Ningde Times has long held a dominant position in China’s power battery market, earning the nickname “King Ning.” However, recent data indicates that by the third quarter of 2025, its domestic market share had dropped to 41.7%, marking a five-year low. This shift in market share reflects the evolving competitive landscape within the industry. Domestic competitors such as BYD’s Fudi battery, Chaojing Navigation, and Guoxuan High-Tech have been steadily gaining ground, encroaching on Ningde Times’ market space. Despite this, Ningde Times remains the preferred choice for many high-end electric vehicle models. From Tesla to BMW, and from Mercedes-Benz to NIO and Li Auto, its extensive clientele includes major global electric vehicle manufacturers. This broad customer recognition forms the foundation of its brand premium.
As a result, it is often observed that vehicles equipped with Ningde Times batteries are priced higher than their counterparts with different battery brands. This raises the question: why are consumers and automakers still willing to pay more for Ningde Times batteries? Is the higher price a reflection of brand premium, or does it indicate superior quality?
When comparing Ningde Times batteries to other brands, there are significant performance differences. In terms of core energy density, Ningde Times’ ternary lithium batteries typically achieve energy densities exceeding 250Wh/kg, surpassing the industry average by approximately 10%-15%. This means that for the same weight, Ningde Times batteries provide longer driving ranges.
Charging speed is another crucial metric. The company has introduced the Shenxing Supercharge battery, which allows for a remarkable achievement of “charging for 10 minutes to achieve a range of 400 kilometers,” effectively alleviating users’ range anxiety. Practical tests show that vehicles equipped with Ningde Times’ latest battery technology maintain a battery capacity retention rate of over 85% even in extreme cold conditions of -20 degrees Celsius, significantly higher than the industry average of 70%-75%.
For automakers, choosing Ningde Times batteries goes beyond just performance specifications; it is also about ensuring quality and safety. An engineer from a certain new energy vehicle company mentioned, “In the process of collaborating with several battery suppliers, the consistency and stability of Ningde Times batteries are clearly superior to those of second-tier brands.” The cycle life of Ningde Times batteries typically exceeds 2000 cycles, which means that with a charging frequency of twice a week, they can last nearly 20 years. This longevity enables vehicles to maintain good range performance throughout their lifecycle, indirectly enhancing their resale value.
Testing data indicates that a particular electric sedan equipped with Ningde Times batteries experiences only an 8% capacity degradation after traveling 100,000 kilometers, while the industry average is around 12%-15%.
As BYD’s blade battery technology matures and other second-tier battery manufacturers rise, the price competition in the LFP battery sector has intensified. To maintain its market position, Ningde Times has had to adjust its strategy. On one hand, it continues to leverage its technical advantage in high-end ternary lithium batteries, while on the other hand, it actively participates in price competition within the iron phosphate lithium sector. In the second quarter of 2025, the price per watt-hour of Ningde Times batteries dropped from 0.63 yuan/wh to 0.56 yuan/wh, reflecting an 11% decrease.
Of course, as new energy vehicles transition from being viewed as “electric toys” to “durable household consumer goods,” the value of batteries should not be solely reflected in their initial price but also in their reliability, safety, and residual value over the long term.
Despite the higher prices of Ningde Times batteries, both consumers and automakers still choose to invest in them. The underlying logic here is the comprehensive value over the entire lifecycle. For consumers, selecting Ningde Times batteries may imply a higher upfront cost, but it also signifies a more reassuring user experience and more reliable long-term value. This reflects a reasonable market reward for Ningde Times’ technological leadership and serves as a microcosm of the shift in China’s manufacturing industry from price competition to value competition.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/is-catls-premium-battery-price-justified-by-technology-or-brand-value/
