CATL has entered into a strategic partnership with Huawei's automotive subsidiary, Yinwang, and its own division, Chocolate Swap. The agreement, signed on October 19, 2026, aims to integrate Huawei's intelligent driving systems with CATL's automated battery swap network.
The collaboration enables electric vehicles to autonomously locate, enter, and position themselves within swap stations. According to the companies, the entire process of replacing a depleted battery with a charged one will take 99 seconds, after which the vehicle will exit the station independently.
The partners plan to launch five vehicle models featuring swappable battery technology in 2027. The first of these will be produced under the Epicland brand, a joint venture between Dongfeng and Huawei. Additionally, the Aistaland brand, a partnership between GAC and Huawei, has integrated these vehicles into its development roadmap.
As of September 29, 2026, CATL operates a network of 2,520 Chocolate Swap stations across 200 cities. The companies intend to leverage data integration between vehicles, charging infrastructure, and cloud services to facilitate the adoption of battery-swapping technology in passenger cars.
