Nio and CATL have solidified a five-year comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement to deepen their work on long-life batteries and broaden the battery swap network. The pact was formally signed in Hefei, Anhui province, with CATL founder and CEO Robin Zeng and Nio founder and CEO William Li both present.

Within the new framework, the two partners will drive joint R&D in long-life battery technologies and ensure compatibility with battery swap systems. Their technical cooperation will explore multiple technology pathways while speeding up the commercialization of new innovations. Simultaneously, both companies will promote the standardization of battery swap protocols, share network resources, and jointly develop an open, shared ecosystem around Battery as a Service (BaaS) and associated business models.

The agreement also includes coordinated efforts in market expansion. Nio and CATL plan to launch joint branding and promotional campaigns domestically and overseas. By combining their strengths, they intend to boost their global market footprint and secure a greater share of the expanding new energy vehicle industry. The collaboration further aligns with Hefei’s goal to establish itself as a world-class NEV industrial cluster.

This reinforced partnership comes as Nio continues to source most of its batteries from CATL. In late December, local media reported that Nio had halted battery supply cooperation with another provider for its Onvo L60 model due to low order volumes, and that certain 100-kWh battery modules previously supplied by a third party have now been shifted to CATL.

Nio and CATL share a long-term relationship. The automaker relied exclusively on CATL batteries in its early stage before diversifying its supply chain. In recent months, the companies reached an agreement on long-life battery development in March 2024 and embarked on a joint initiative in March 2025 to construct what is poised to become the world’s largest battery swap network.

Earlier today, Nio marked the rollout of its one-millionth vehicle at its F2 plant in Hefei, highlighting its rapid growth trajectory and the critical need for dependable, scalable battery solutions.