China’s CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer, has taken a significant step beyond its core business by co-founding a joint venture aimed at developing Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities. The new venture, Shanghai Zaofu Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., has a registered capital of 1.3 billion yuan ($180 million) and brings together CATL, fintech giant Ant Group, and mobility platform Hello.
The venture, formally registered on June 23, plans to build a fully integrated Level 4 autonomous platform, combining software, intelligent hardware, and data-driven services. Under the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) levels of driving automation, Level 4 autonomy enables vehicles to operate without human intervention on predefined routes and in specific environments.
“This initiative builds on our April agreement and marks a strategic alignment of our capabilities to accelerate the development of intelligent transportation,” the companies said in a joint statement.
CATL will contribute its expertise in battery systems and skateboard chassis platforms, while Hello brings its experience in ride-hailing, shared bikes, and battery-swapping networks. The mobility firm has also built a technical team dedicated to autonomous driving and large-scale model deployment.
Ant Group is expected to supply advanced AI solutions, including reinforcement learning, embodied intelligence, and secure data frameworks. These components are considered essential to ensuring the scalability and safety of future robotaxi services.
The formation of Shanghai Zaofu reflects a growing convergence between electric mobility, artificial intelligence, and financial technology in China’s evolving transportation landscape. As global competition in autonomous driving intensifies, the partnership highlights an effort by Chinese tech players to develop vertically integrated ecosystems around smart mobility.