BAIC Group and CATL have entered into an expanded agreement to integrate multiple BAIC brands into the Choco battery swap network. The partnership includes joint development of vehicles, battery technology, and infrastructure, as well as the use of BAIC dealer locations for station deployment.
The companies aim to establish a battery swap ecosystem capable of serving millions of vehicles. This initiative builds on a prior June 2024 agreement. Currently, the Arcfox Beta S3 and Beta T1 models already utilize CATL's Choco-SEB solution, allowing for separate sales of vehicles and batteries.
CATL operates 2,520 swap stations across 200 cities as of September 29, 2026. The company targets a long-term expansion to 30,000 stations. Furthermore, CATL plans to install 1,000 highway swap stations throughout 2026 and 2027 to support long-distance travel.
The collaboration follows a recent deal between CATL and Huawei's Newcool, announced on October 19, 2026. This integration will connect models using Huawei's Qiankun intelligent solutions to the Choco network, further broadening the ecosystem's user base.
