On March 17, NIO and CATL signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Ningde, Fujian. The two companies will work together to build a battery-swapping network for passenger vehicles, unify industry standards, and deepen capital and business collaboration. Their goal is to provide users with a more efficient energy solution and drive the high-quality development of the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry.
As part of the agreement, CATL plans to invest up to 2.5 billion RMB in NIO’s energy business, strengthening their partnership. By leveraging their respective strengths in technology, capital, and business operations, the two companies aim to create greater industry impact.
During the signing ceremony, NIO Senior Vice President Shen Fei and CATL Battery Swap Business General Manager Yang Jun signed the agreement on behalf of both parties. NIO’s Founder, Chairman, and CEO William Li and CATL’s Founder, Chairman, and CEO Robin Zeng attended the event alongside senior executives from both companies.
This partnership aligns with the global shift towards electric mobility. NIO and CATL will combine their expertise in technology, management, platform development, and branding to create the world’s largest and most advanced battery-swapping network for passenger cars. They will also standardize battery technology, expand the shared swapping network, and enhance service efficiency to support the growth of the NEV industry. CATL will assist in the expansion of NIO’s battery-swapping network, and future models under NIO’s Firefly brand will be compatible with CATL’s “Chocolate” battery-swapping technology. The network will operate under a “dual-network” system to provide users with a more convenient and seamless swapping experience.
Beyond infrastructure development, the two companies will promote national standards for battery-swapping technology, enabling cross-brand and cross-model compatibility. They will also build a complete battery lifecycle management system, covering battery development, swapping services, asset management, second-life utilization, and material recycling, ultimately improving cost efficiency and safety across the NEV value chain.
“NIO’s partnership with CATL marks a new phase for battery swapping,” said William Li. “With CATL’s support, our swapping network will expand to more regions, serving more users. This collaboration goes beyond capital investment—it’s about setting industry standards and advancing service models. NIO will continue to open its charging and swapping network to more users, accelerating the industry’s transition to green, low-carbon mobility.”
Robin Zeng stated, “CATL is committed to global energy transformation, and this partnership with NIO represents a major milestone in industry-wide innovation. Leveraging our Chocolate battery-swapping technology, we will establish a smart energy network through a dual-network system, maximizing battery value throughout its lifecycle. Our goal is to offer safer, more efficient, and more sustainable EV solutions to users worldwide.”
Earlier in March, NIO and CATL signed a framework agreement to jointly develop long-lifespan batteries.
NIO currently operates the largest network of battery-swapping stations and charging piles in China. The company has built 3,172 battery-swapping stations, including nearly 1,000 highway swap stations, covering more than 700 cities. This infrastructure enables seamless long-distance travel between major urban areas.
Looking ahead, NIO plans to further expand its swapping network. By June 30, 2025, the company aims to establish battery-swapping coverage across 1,200 counties in 14 provincial regions, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong. By December 31, 2025, NIO targets full coverage across 2,300 counties in 27 provincial regions.
NIO is also working on a comprehensive battery-swapping ecosystem and has already established strategic partnerships with automakers such as Changan, Geely, Chery, JAC, GAC, FAW, and Lotus to promote the widespread adoption of battery swapping.
