CATL has introduced a right-hand-drive taxi model capable of battery swapping in Hong Kong, marking a significant expansion of the company’s regional swap-network efforts. The launch coincides with preparations for CATL’s first battery swap station in the city, according to a company statement released this week.
The initiative is part of a broader collaboration involving CATL subsidiary Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology (CAES), Dragon Rise New Energy, FAW’s import-export division, and CATL’s joint venture with Didi.
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The groups signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Hong Kong on November 24 and jointly presented a battery-swappable FAW Hongqi E-QM5, described as the world’s first right-hand-drive new energy taxi configured for battery exchange.
The vehicle is equipped with CATL’s Choco-SEB (swapping electric block) technology, which enables a full battery change in roughly 99 seconds. The right-hand-drive E-QM5 carries a 56-kWh Choco-SEB pack, providing an estimated CLTC driving range of 500 km. CATL said its inaugural Hong Kong battery swap station will begin operations soon, with plans to expand the network to six stations by the end of 2026.
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By 2027, the company aims to deploy 14 battery swap stations across Hong Kong, covering major transport corridors and key districts. CATL first entered the battery swap sector in 2022 with the launch of its EVOGO brand and later updated the system with standardized Choco-SEB battery units.
Construction of Hong Kong’s first Choco-SEB station began in January this year, through a joint effort by CATL, FAW Hongqi and Dragon Rise. CATL has previously outlined a long-term plan to establish a new-energy mobility network linking Hong Kong with ASEAN markets through its battery-swap ecosystem.