CATL has expanded its Choco battery-swapping network to 2,000 stations across China, marking a significant milestone as the world’s largest battery manufacturer accelerates investment in battery-swapping infrastructure for passenger vehicles and light commercial trucks.
The company said the network now spans 180 cities in 31 provincial-level regions, reflecting rapid growth from the 1,020 stations operating across 45 cities at the end of 2025.
Network Expansion Accelerates
CATL said it added more than 200 Choco battery-swap stations per month on average during the second quarter, with coverage of China’s small and medium-sized cities now exceeding 80%.
The company has focused much of its recent expansion on third- and fourth-tier cities, building double-digit numbers of stations in locations including Wenzhou, Shaoxing, Jinhua, Jiaxing and Taizhou.
The network has also expanded into tourism destinations such as Dali and Quanzhou, commercial centers including Yiwu and Luoyang, and a growing number of county-level markets.
Overseas Rollout Begins
CATL has also started deploying the Choco battery-swapping system outside mainland China.
The company’s first two battery-swap stations have entered operation in Hong Kong, where the initial fleet of swap-enabled taxis has already been delivered.
CATL plans to establish approximately 36 battery-swap stations across Hong Kong by 2030 and said the city’s high-density deployment model could serve as a template for future international expansion.
In Europe, the company is partnering with Octopus Energy through a 50:50 joint venture to develop a battery-swapping network for heavy-duty electric trucks.
The first demonstration stations are expected to open in the United Kingdom in 2027, with more than 30 locations planned by 2035.
Larger Battery-Swapping Strategy
Beyond the Choco network, CATL continues to expand its Qiji Energy battery-swapping system for commercial vehicles.
The company previously announced that Qiji Energy had deployed more than 300 heavy-truck battery-swap stations across China and plans to increase that number to more than 900 by the end of 2026.
CATL expects the combined total of Choco and Qiji Energy battery-swap stations in China to exceed 4,000 by the end of this year, serving more than 190 cities.
Looking further ahead, the company said its long-term objective is to establish a nationwide network of 30,000 battery-swap stations while introducing a franchise model to support future expansion.
