CATL and GAC Group sign 10-year strategic agreement to expand battery swap ecosystem
On November 11, CATL announced a 10-year strategic cooperation agreement with GAC Group, aiming to jointly advance China's battery swap infrastructure and smart electric vehicle technologies. The partnership goes beyond supply chain coordination, focusing on full-chain collaboration from R&D to energy services.
The two companies will concentrate on intelligent chassis systems and battery swap ecosystems. CATL will leverage its expertise in power batteries, energy storage, and energy services to help GAC develop more competitive new energy vehicles. One key technology in focus is the Panshi chassis, which enhances driving feel and safety standards.
CATL also confirmed plans to deepen cooperation in battery leasing and joint construction of swap stations. This initiative supports the expansion of the "chocolate battery swap" ecosystem, which allows rapid battery replacement for compatible EVs.
As of November 8, China's 800th chocolate battery swap station was completed near Xi'an's Daming Palace. CATL's roadmap includes building 1,000 stations across 45 cities by the end of 2025, expanding to over 2,500 stations in 120 cities by 2026. The long-term goal is to deploy 30,000 battery swap stations nationwide.
CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited), founded in 2011 and headquartered in Ningde, China, is a global leader in lithium-ion battery development and manufacturing. GAC Group (Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd.), established in 1997, is one of China's largest automakers, producing vehicles under brands such as Trumpchi, Aion, and GAC Honda.
