The power battery is moving from "grey box" to "white box," redefining the core component authority for car manufacturers.

From Xiaomi's "Dragon Armor" to Li Auto's "Qilin 5C," from BYD's "Blade" to Geely's "Gold Brick," a "naming movement" led by automakers is sweeping through China's new energy vehicle industry. As the heart of the car, batteries are transitioning from the "gray box model" on the procurement side to the "white box model" with deep participation from car companies. Respondents believe this is a reconstruction surrounding the definition rights of core components in new energy vehiclesautomakers are no longer satisfied with purchasing standardized complete packages, but are instead penetrating into battery cell materials, production processes, and even the second and third-tier supply chains through in-depth management, aiming to take the lead in technical standards and quality systems. The homogenization of products, profit imbalances, and the implementation of new national standards are pushing OEMs to "reclaim the heart" from battery manufacturers at an accelerated pace. Industry observers believe that "white-boxing" is merely the prologue, and the dynamics of the game between automakers and the supply chain may profoundly impact the landscape of China's new energy industry.