NIO and CATL signed a strategic partnership in Ningde, China. The companies aim to accelerate new vehicle development by building a battery swapping network for passenger vehicles. They plan to unify industry technical standards, strengthen capital and business collaboration, and provide efficient charging solutions, the companies said.

CATL Invests in NIO Power to Boost EV Infrastructure

CATL said it plans to invest up to RMB 2.5 billion (approx. $344 million) in NIO Power. The partnership will leverage both companies’ strengths in technology, capital, and business to expand the battery swapping network. Yang Jun, General Manager of Battery Swap Business at CATL, and Dr. Shen Fei, Senior Vice President of NIO, signed the agreement. NIO’s William Li and CATL’s Robin Zeng attended the event with other key executives.

Collaboration Will Establish Unified Battery Standards

NIO and CATL will create a battery swapping service network by combining their technological and management strengths. CATL will introduce its Choco-Swap standard to new NIO models. Both companies plan to drive national standards for battery swapping technology, aiming to ensure compatibility across brands and models.

The companies said they will build a battery lifecycle system that includes R&D, swapping services, asset management, and recycling. Their goal is to reduce costs and increase efficiency.

Battery Swapping Network Will Cover 2,300 County Divisions

As of now, NIO operates 3,172 Power Swap Stations in China. These stations connect 18 expressways and 14 city clusters. By June 30, NIO plans to expand the network to over 1,200 county-level divisions in 14 provincial-level regions. By Dec. 31, the network will cover 2,300 county-level divisions in 27 regions.

NIO Strengthens OEM Partnerships for Battery Swapping Network

NIO is building a robust operational system for battery swapping and has partnered with OEMs like Chang’an Automobile, Geely Holding, Chery Automobile, JAC Group, GAC Group, FAW Group, and Lotus. In March 2024, NIO and CATL signed a framework agreement to promote innovation in long-life battery research.