CATL has opened the Middle East’s first—and currently largest—new energy aftermarket facility outside China, planting a major flag in Saudi Arabia’s push toward electrification and decarbonization.

 

Launched on January 10, 2026, the NING SERVICE Experience Center in Riyadh marks a significant expansion of CATL’s after-sales footprint in the region, positioning the battery giant at the center of the Middle East’s rapidly evolving clean energy ecosystem.

 

The opening comes as Saudi Arabia accelerates its Vision 2030 agenda, which includes a target to transition 30% of all vehicles in Riyadh to electric by 2030 and cut the capital’s emissions by 50%. 

 

Across the region, governments are promoting electric mobility, energy storage, and green power—from electric forklifts in logistics to renewable-powered agriculture—while grappling with entrenched oil dependence, rising electricity demand, harsh climates, and limited charging and service infrastructure.

 

CATL says the Riyadh facility is purpose-built to confront those challenges head-on.

 

Spanning more than 7,000 square meters, the center integrates exhibition halls, diagnostics and maintenance zones, refurbishment facilities, training classrooms, and customer spaces. It functions simultaneously as a regional service hub, a showcase for CATL’s system-level capabilities in electric mobility and energy storage, and a platform designed to link partners across the new energy value chain.

 

At the core of the center is a full-lifecycle service model. Backed by CATL’s R&D and manufacturing expertise, the NING SERVICE Experience Center provides battery diagnostics, repair, maintenance, rework, training, recycling, aftermarket logistics, and warehousing. 

 

Services cover seven major product categories, from passenger and commercial vehicles to large-scale energy storage systems, setting a new regional benchmark for new energy after-sales support.

 

By combining advanced diagnostics with standardized service processes, CATL aims to help enterprise customers cut downtime, reduce maintenance costs, extend asset life, and improve long-term performance certainty—lowering total ownership costs while delivering more reliable service to end users.

 

The Riyadh center also anchors CATL’s localization strategy in the Middle East. Dedicated training facilities focus on developing regional after-sales and technical talent, supporting skilled employment and knowledge transfer. Globally, NING SERVICE operates 10 training centers covering 2,300 square meters and has certified more than 9,700 new energy after-sales professionals through partnerships with vocational institutions.

 

Beyond talent development, CATL is strengthening local infrastructure and partnerships. The company is in discussions with fuel network operators to supply green electricity to gas stations, infrastructure firms to electrify truck fleets, and energy companies to deploy solar-plus-storage solutions—moves designed to accelerate large-scale adoption of electrified systems across the region.

 

“As a leading energy company in Saudi Arabia, we see tremendous opportunities in energy transformation. For instance, we plan to deploy solar-plus-storage solutions at our gas stations and electrify forklifts to reduce reliance on oil. We look forward to collaborating with top players like CATL to drive this transition forward,” said Ahmed Ibrahim, Assistant General Manager For Procurement of Al Drees, a leading provider of petroleum and logistics services in Saudi Arabia.

 

“The launch of CATL's Riyadh aftermarket flagship underscores our shared commitment to driving the global energy transition. This milestone not only reflects the growing demand for sustainable solutions in Saudi Arabia but also embodies our collective vision for a cleaner, electrified future. 

 

"As the investor behind the experience centre, we are confident that this partnership will accelerate electrification and strengthen the region's role in advancing the energy transition.” said Lin Chaofan, CEO of F4S.

 

CATL executives describe the Riyadh center as a long-term strategic investment rather than a standalone facility.

 

“Our decision to establish this center in Riyadh is not only a commercial choice, but a long-term commitment,” Li said. 

 

“As the first NING SERVICE Experience Center in the Middle East, it is more than a service facility. It is a new energy aftermarket ecosystem hub that brings together advanced technology, professional training, and industry collaboration—effectively connecting diverse stakeholders and resources to foster deeper synergy and sustainable growth across the region. 

 

"Starting from here, CATL will continue to expand its after-sales service network across the Middle East, align closely with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, and support the region's energy transition through a reliable, end-to-end service system.”