China FAW Group’s Hongqi brand has partnered with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL) to advance battery swap technology, becoming the second automaker within a month to adopt CATL’s Choco-SEB battery swap system. The partnership, announced on December 14, includes CATL subsidiary Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology (CAES).
Under the agreement, the three companies will work together to integrate the Choco-SEB battery swap technology into Hongqi’s vehicle lineup and develop battery swap services and asset operations. “This collaboration aims to promote convenient and safe battery swap-enabled models while accelerating the transition to electrified mobility and low-carbon lifestyles,” Hongqi stated.
The move aligns with Hongqi’s broader efforts in the battery swap segment. In November 2021, Hongqi introduced its first battery swap-enabled E-QM5 models for the ride-hailing market. This year, the company also filed for additional battery swap-enabled models equipped with lithium iron phosphate batteries supplied by BYD’s FinDreams Battery division.
This announcement follows Changan Automobile’s similar partnership with CATL in November, which introduced the Oshan 520 electric sedan featuring Choco-SEB battery swap technology. CATL’s EVOGO brand, launched in 2022, focuses on modular battery solutions that provide flexibility for varying mileage requirements.
The collaboration highlights the growing adoption of battery swap solutions in China’s new energy vehicle market, further advancing efforts to improve charging convenience and accelerate the shift to electric mobility.
