BAIC Group and CATL signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Beijing on October 22, 2026. The partnership aims to reach a milestone of one million electric vehicles equipped with battery-swapping technology. The collaboration covers vehicle development, battery supply, and the expansion of the Chocolate battery-swapping network.
BAIC Group plans to integrate multiple vehicle brands into the Chocolate ecosystem. The company will utilize its dealership network to deploy battery-swapping stations. Both parties intend to develop joint business models and drive industry standardization to make battery swapping a mainstream consumer choice.
CATL currently operates 2,520 battery-swapping stations. While the number of compatible vehicles remains limited, usage is increasing in specific regions. During the 2026 National Day holiday, a station in Chongqing recorded 311 battery swaps in a single day, surpassing the 211 swaps recorded at a Nio station.
The agreement was signed by BAIC Group Vice General Manager Zhang Guofu and CATL Market System Co-President Yang Jun. The ceremony was attended by BAIC Group Chairman Zhang Jianyong and CATL Chairman and CEO Robin Zeng. Previous filings indicate that the BAIC T1 compact car is slated for a battery-swapping version.
