China VIN ReportCHABOSHI Inspection Grades Explained With a Real S Grade Report
For importers and dealers sourcing used vehicles from China, understanding an inspection report helps turn a supplier’s description into information that can be reviewed before purchase. CHABOSHI (查博…
For importers and dealers sourcing used vehicles from China, understanding an inspection report helps turn a supplier’s description into information that can be reviewed before purchase. CHABOSHI (查博士) reports include condition classifications and detailed findings, while its new energy vehicle reports also assess the electric powertrain and battery health.
The key is to read three results separately: vehicle condition, battery safety, and battery State of Health (SOH). An S in one category does not explain the other two. Below, we explain the Chinese grading legend and examine a real S grade report for a ZEEKR 9X.
Vehicle condition grades S D H and R
The Chinese S/D/H/R legend defines vehicle condition as follows. These are inspection classifications; each letter should be read alongside the report’s findings.
Grade | Meaning in the Chinese grading legend |
|---|---|
S | No accident, flood or fire condition is identified under the report’s classification. |
D | The vehicle is classified as an accident vehicle, but not as a flood-damaged or fire-damaged vehicle. |
H | Damage is present, but the vehicle is not classified as an accident, flood-damaged or fire-damaged vehicle. |
R | The vehicle has one or more of the following conditions: accident damage, flood damage or fire damage. |
The D and R descriptions overlap on accident classification. The legend alone does not establish a clear severity ranking between them.
Check the legend in the report you are reading. The English-language legend in the linked example uses S/D/R and describes D as defects or repairs without a major-accident, flood or fire classification. This differs from the Chinese four-category legend above. Ask CHABOSHI to clarify an inconsistent classification before applying it to a buying decision.
Battery safety grades S and R
Battery grading concerns the vehicle’s three-electric system: the traction battery, drive motor and electronic control system. The Chinese legend distinguishes between CATL (宁德时代) and non-CATL battery cells.
Battery cell brand | Grade | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
CATL | S | No safety hazards are identified in the three-electric system, and battery health shows no abnormal degradation. |
CATL | R | Safety hazards are identified in the three-electric system. |
Other brands | S | No safety hazards are identified in the three-electric system. |
Other brands | R | Safety hazards are identified in the three-electric system. |
The CATL definition adds a condition concerning abnormal battery-health degradation. Neither S definition supplies a numerical SOH score, so the percentage must be checked separately.
Battery health percentage bands
CHABOSHI displays battery State of Health as a percentage and groups the result into four bands. The English labels below follow the terminology shown in the example report.
Chinese label | English report label | SOH score |
|---|---|---|
Excellent | Excellent (EX) | 90% or higher |
Very good | Very good (VG) | 80% or higher, but below 90% |
Good | Good (G) | 65% or higher, but below 80% |
Average | Fair (F) | Below 65% |
For example, a reported SOH of 99.5% falls in the Excellent band. Read the report’s range estimates separately: its own notes explain that battery performance can vary with temperature, season and region.
A real S grade report for a ZEEKR 9X
The following example is an actual CHABOSHI inspection report hosted on CHABOSHI’s reporting platform. Its combined result is displayed as SS99.5, representing S vehicle condition, S battery safety and 99.5% battery SOH.
Open the original CHABOSHI S grade report in English
Report field | Recorded result |
|---|---|
Vehicle | ZEEKR 9X |
Report number | 202609JC25727141 |
Report date | 5 September 2026 |
Displayed odometer reading | 5,408 km |
Vehicle condition grade | S |
Battery safety grade | S |
Battery SOH | 99.5% — Excellent |
Major accident checks | 0 abnormal items out of 70 |
Flood damage checks | 0 abnormal items out of 31 |
Fire damage checks | 0 abnormal items out of 23 |
Physical damage checks | 1 abnormal item out of 21 |
The physical damage section flags the power battery pack mounting point and includes photographs. Its S ratings therefore sit alongside a specific abnormal finding that a buyer should review.
This is a useful example of how to read an S grade: start with the overall classification, then examine the recorded exceptions and their supporting images. Do not assume that an S means every inspected component has an entirely normal result.
Reading the report before purchasing
Begin by matching the report’s VIN to the vehicle being offered, then check its date and displayed mileage. In this example, 5,408 km is the recorded odometer reading at inspection; the report explicitly lists odometer-tampering inspection as outside the package’s scope.
Next, review the detailed findings and photographs, especially the battery mounting-point entry. Ask for an explanation of the observed condition and any repair history relevant to it. Keep the vehicle-condition grade, battery-safety grade and SOH percentage separate when comparing vehicles.
Finally, check what the inspection covers. This example lists exterior inspection and chassis inspection outside its scope and describes a static inspection that excludes dynamic driving-performance testing. Arrange additional checks where those areas matter to your purchase.
For an importer or dealer, the practical value comes from combining the classification with the underlying findings and the scope of inspection. That gives you a clearer basis for discussing condition, pricing and any further checks with the supplier.
Planning to source used vehicles from China? Contact ZEEX AUTO to discuss your vehicle requirements and the inspection information you need before purchase.