Two Chinese battery giants collaborate to build the world's largest battery swapping network

NIO and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL) have entered into a strategic partnership, officially signed in Ningde, Fujian. The collaboration aims to accelerate the development of the new energy vehicle sector by jointly establishing a comprehensive battery swapping network for passenger vehicles, standardizing industry technologies, strengthening financial and business cooperation, and delivering efficient charging solutions for users.

As part of the partnership, the two companies will also explore deeper capital collaboration. CATL is moving forward with a proposed investment of up to RMB 2.5 billion in NIO Power, reinforcing the strategic relationship. By combining efforts in technology, capital, and operations, NIO and CATL aim to create a powerful synergy that exceeds what either could achieve independently.

The agreement was signed by Mr. Yang Jun, General Manager of CATL's Battery Swap Business, and Dr. Shen Fei, Senior Vice President of NIO. The signing was witnessed by William Li, NIO’s Founder, Chairman, and CEO, along with Dr. Robin Zeng, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of CATL. Also present were key executives including Stanley Qu (NIO CFO), Alan Zeng (SVP, NIO), David Han (Co-President of CATL Sales & Marketing), James Wang (CATL Chief Investment Officer), Joseph Zheng (CATL CFO), and other distinguished guests.

As part of the agreement, NIO and CATL will join forces to build the world’s largest and most advanced battery swapping network for passenger vehicles, capitalizing on the ongoing transformation of the global automotive industry. By leveraging their strengths in technology, operations, platforms, and brand influence, the two companies aim to expand and enhance battery swapping services based on unified standards.

They plan to integrate and share their battery swapping networks to accelerate adoption and innovation in the space. CATL will actively support NIO in developing this network and will implement its Choco-Swap technology and infrastructure in future models under "firefly," NIO’s new brand. Both networks will operate side by side, offering electric vehicle users a smoother and more efficient battery swapping experience, making battery electric vehicle (BEV) travel more accessible and user-friendly.

In addition, NIO and CATL will work together to shape and promote national standards for battery swapping technology in China, improving cross-brand compatibility. The partnership also aims to create a comprehensive battery ecosystem that spans research and development, swapping services, asset management, reuse, and recycling of materials. This closed-loop system is expected to reduce costs, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure safety throughout the entire new energy vehicle value chain.

William Li, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of NIO, stated:

“The strategic alliance between NIO and CATL marks a significant step forward, ushering battery swapping into a new era. With CATL’s support, we’ll be able to expand our battery swapping network to more regions and offer improved services. This partnership goes far beyond just capital investment—it enables both sides to strengthen collaboration in technology standards and service frameworks. NIO remains committed to openness in areas like charging, battery swapping, and battery asset management. Our goal is to deliver the ‘Chargeable, Swappable, Upgradeable’ solution to a wider audience and help accelerate the green, low-carbon transformation of the automotive industry.”

Robin Zeng, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of CATL, commented:

“CATL has always been dedicated to advancing the global transition to clean energy. This strategic partnership with NIO Power represents a key milestone in collaborative innovation throughout the value chain. By combining our Choco-Swap technology with the parallel operation of both CATL’s and NIO’s networks, we’re building a smart power infrastructure that meets diverse user needs on multiple levels. This approach maximizes the value of each battery throughout its lifecycle and allows us to deliver safer, more efficient, and more sustainable electric mobility solutions to users around the world.”

In March 2024, NIO and CATL signed a framework agreement aimed at jointly advancing innovation in the development of long-lasting battery technologies.

As the leading automotive brand with the largest number of charging and battery swapping stations in China, NIO has established 3,172 Power Swap Stations. Its highway-based Power Swap network spans 18 major expressways and 14 metropolitan clusters, with nearly 1,000 stations along highways and coverage in over 700 cities. This wide-reaching infrastructure allows for smooth and convenient battery swaps during intercity travel across much of China.

NIO continues to expand and improve its Power Swap network. By June 30, 2025, the network is expected to extend to over 1,200 county-level areas across 14 provincial regions, including major hubs like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong. By the end of 2025, the network will expand further to cover more than 2,300 county-level areas in 27 provincial regions.

In addition to infrastructure development, NIO is focused on building a robust system for managing and operating EV battery swapping services. The company has also formed comprehensive, multi-tiered strategic partnerships with major automotive groups such as Chang'an Automobile, Geely Holding, Chery Automobile, JAC Group, GAC Group, FAW Group, and Lotus.

About NIO

Founded in November 2014, NIO is a global smart electric vehicle manufacturer committed to building a sustainable and promising future through high-performance EVs and exceptional user experiences. It is the first automaker to be listed on the NYSE, HKEX, and SGX. NIO operates three key brands: NIO, ONVO, and firefly.

Now a decade into its journey, NIO has emerged as a leading player in the global premium smart EV market. The company emphasizes in-house innovation and has filed for and secured over 9,800 patents as of January 2024. It has also developed the NIO Full Stack, a comprehensive suite covering 12 core technology areas.

NIO’s research, development, and manufacturing footprint spans across cities such as Shanghai, Hefei, Beijing, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Wuhan, San Jose, Munich, Oxford, Berlin, Budapest, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi. The company has also built sales and service networks across several countries, including China, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, the UAE, Israel, and Azerbaijan.

Under the NIO brand, the company currently offers nine premium smart EV models, along with one model under the ONVO brand. firefly has also begun accepting pre-orders in China. As of February 28, 2025, NIO Inc. had delivered 698,619 vehicles, maintaining its lead in the premium battery electric vehicle (BEV) segment priced above RMB 300,000.