News outlet debunks 'media farce' around China's NEVs

A Chinese media outlet affiliated with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China's top industry regulator, published an article on Tuesday calling the recent hype around "de-CATLization" in China's NEV industry a "media farce".

A WeChat account run by the MIIT News and Publicity Center said that automakers adjusting supply chains, adding suppliers, and developing in-house batteries are normal market behaviors. Yet, they have been packaged as "de-CATLization" — a term referring to efforts by carmakers to reduce their reliance on CATL, or Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd, China's largest and the world's leading EV battery maker — and even portrayed as confrontation between automakers and battery makers.

What's more, the article warned of a concurrent trend: price competition is spreading upstream through the industrial chain. It stressed that batteries are no ordinary standardized component — they directly affect vehicle safety, reliability, lifespan, and user experience.

Citing NielsenIQ research, the article noted that most consumers worldwide can perceive differences in technology and quality among battery brands and treat batteries as a key purchasing factor. Cost reduction matters, but low prices must not be equated with low costs, still less with sacrificing quality.