Swap stations for passenger cars, totaling more than 400, constructed by CATL
China's CATL Expands Battery Swap Network, Aims to Compete with Nio
In the rapidly growing world of electric vehicles (EVs), Chinese battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) is making significant strides in the battery swap sector. As of mid-2025, CATL has constructed over 400 battery swap stations for passenger vehicles in China, with plans to reach 1,000 such stations by the end of the year. The company also aims to expand its battery swap network for heavy-duty trucks, targeting around 300 stations by year-end.
CATL's long-term goal is to grow its battery swap stations to 10,000, with plans to expand internationally, including Europe. The company's battery swap ecosystem supports more than 20 EV models with its Choco-SEB standardized swappable batteries, a result of collaborations with partners such as Nio, Didi, and Sinopec.
Nio, however, remains the leader in battery swapping with over 3,400 battery swap stations across China, including 1,000 stations on highways. CATL, recognising the need to enlarge the market and increase standardization, is aggressively expanding its passenger vehicle swap infrastructure and working closely with Nio and other partners.
In December 2024, CATL made a major update to its battery swap business, announcing two standardized Choco-SEB battery packs. The company has also entered into cooperation agreements on battery swap business with Changan Automobile, Wuling, FAW Group, SAIC Motor, and Sinopec. In the first half of the year, CATL's net income was RMB 30.5 billion, up 33 percent year-on-year, and its revenue in the second quarter was RMB 94.2 billion, bringing the first half of the year's revenue to RMB 178.9 billion, up 16.80 percent year-on-year.
CATL's partnership with Nio, announced in March this year, aims to jointly build the world's largest and most advanced battery swap service network for passenger vehicles. The collaboration is expected to accelerate the development of the battery swap ecosystem. CATL has also started deliveries of an electric sedan built on its battery swap technology with Changan Automobile.
As CATL continues to scale up its battery swap infrastructure, it positions itself as a major competitor and partner in the battery swapping ecosystem, aiming to challenge Nio's dominance in the Chinese market and expand its reach globally.
[1] CATL Press Release [2] Nio Press Release [3] Sinopec Press Release [4] Didi Chuxing Press Release [5] CATL Q2 2022 Earnings Report
- In an effort to compete with Nio and establish themselves as a key player in the battery swap sector for electric vehicles (EVs), CATL has planned to reach 1,000 battery swap stations for passenger vehicles in China by the end of 2025, and expand their network to 10,000 stations eventually, with international markets like Europe included.
- Beyond cars, CATL aims to extend its battery swap infrastructure to heavy-duty trucks, with intentions to have around 300 stations by year-end for such vehicles.
- CATL's Choco-SEB standardized swappable batteries are currently supporting more than 20 EV models, a result of partnerships with companies like Nio, Didi, and Sinopec.
- Recognizing the need for market expansion and standardization, CATL is working closely with Nio and other partners to enlarge the battery swap market.
- In March of this year, CATL announced a partnership with Nio to jointly build the world's largest and most advanced battery swap service network for passenger vehicles, aiming to accelerate the development of the battery swap ecosystem.
- In addition to the collaboration with Nio, CATL has also started delivering an electric sedan built on its battery swap technology with Changan Automobile, demonstrating its commitment to advancing automotive technology within the lifestyle and infrastructure of electric vehicles.
