CATL and SAIC Commercial Vehicle announced an expanded strategic partnership at Auto Guangzhou 2025 on November 21, outlining a plan to accelerate electrification and digitalization in commercial transport.
The cooperation will cover joint technology development, ecosystem construction and international market expansion, with the two companies working to build an integrated network connecting vehicles, battery systems, swap stations and cloud platforms.
The initiative aims to modernize logistics and urban delivery operations while supporting a transition toward more efficient and lower-emission commercial mobility.
SAIC Commercial Vehicle, a key player in China’s logistics and urban transport sector, has made new energy technologies central to its long-term development. CATL has been a core supplier of battery systems and energy solutions throughout this shift. Under the expanded partnership, the companies will deepen work on powertrain technologies, including SAIC’s Maxus Dana series, which incorporates CATL’s new TIANXING Battery.
The system is designed to deliver higher energy density, improved cycle life and faster charging, supporting the growing requirements of light commercial EVs. The companies also plan to scale up deployment of their Choco-Swap model, first piloted in logistics fleets, to improve charging efficiency and operational sustainability in public and urban delivery scenarios.
The collaboration includes efforts to expand CATL’s battery-swapping infrastructure. Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology Ltd., a CATL subsidiary, has developed a swapping system capable of completing a replacement within minutes, improving utilization rates for commercial fleets. CATL aims to extend the swapping-station network to 140 cities by 2026, offering a rapid and flexible energy-replenishment option to a broader range of operators.
Future work will center on integrating vehicles, battery systems, swap stations and cloud-based management platforms into a unified operational framework. The companies plan to combine automated energy-replenishment technologies with intelligent-driving capabilities to support a fully connected smart-energy service chain.
Internationally, CATL and SAIC Commercial Vehicle will coordinate market strategies, focusing on navigating global battery regulations, carbon-compliance requirements and expanding the presence of China’s commercial NEVs overseas.
The strengthened partnership signals a shift from product-focused cooperation toward joint ecosystem development, reflecting wider industry efforts to enhance commercial fleet efficiency and reduce emissions. Both companies intend to further refine swapping infrastructure and support the development of intelligent urban transport systems in China and international markets.