CATL and HUAWEI have partnered to build autonomous battery swap stations for electric vehicles. The system pairs the CATL battery swapping network with HUAWEI Qiankun automated driving software to complete battery exchanges in 99 seconds without driver input. Commercial rollout begins with 5 compatible vehicle models scheduled to enter production in 2027.
HUAWEI subsidiary Yinwang and CATL battery unit Chocolate Swap signed the agreement to link vehicle telematics, physical stations, and cloud systems. The vehicle monitors its own energy levels, navigates to the nearest station, and aligns itself over the swap platform automatically. The physical exchange takes 99 seconds, allowing the electric vehicle to resume travel without human assistance.
Automakers are preparing 5 production models supporting the rapid exchange standard. The first commercial vehicle comes from Epicland, an automotive brand created by Dongfeng and HUAWEI. GAC and HUAWEI are also preparing compatible vehicles under their joint Aistaland brand to expand vehicle choices across consumer segments.
CATL currently operates 2520 swap stations across 200 cities in China, with plans to expand the passenger car network to 3000 locations by the end of the year. The battery manufacturer also plans to deploy 900 heavy truck battery swap stations to support commercial logistics routes.
