Gasgoo Munich- Looking back at February, the automotive sector saw a fresh surge in joint ventures and partnerships. Mercedes-Benz deepened ties with Momenta, while Bosch and NIO inked a strategic pact. Minth Group and Leaderdrive plan to form a joint venture, JAC Group struck a strategic deal with Brembo, and ZF signed an agreement with BMW. Here is a roundup of the major joint ventures and partnerships that shaped the industry in February 2026.
Automakers
Mercedes-Benz and Momenta Deepen Cooperation
On Feb. 26, Mercedes-Benz China and Momenta signed an upgraded memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Beijing, marking a new chapter in their strategic cooperation on future mobility.
Image source: Momenta
That same day, German Chancellor Merz, currently visiting China, took a test ride in the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class equipped with a jointly developed intelligent driving system. Accompanied by Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Merz spoke highly of the system's performance — a vivid endorsement of this fusion of German and Chinese technology.
The signing of this MOU signals a new stage in a partnership built on eight years of deep trust and collaboration.
BMW Partners with CATL
On Feb. 25, during German Chancellor Merz's visit to China, BMW Group Chairman Oliver Zipse officially signed an MOU with CATL. The two companies will focus on reducing carbon emissions across the power battery supply chain, systematically lowering the carbon footprint of electric vehicles, and driving sustainable development to new heights.
Image source: BMW Group
The deal marks a significant milestone in BMW's localization efforts in China. The first domestically produced Neue Klasse model — the long-wheelbase version of the Neue Klasse BMW iX3 — is set for its global premiere at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2026. Built on the Neue Klasse pure electric architecture, the vehicle optimizes space and the driving experience for Chinese users, standing as a core product in BMW's electric transformation.
CATL announced back in December 2024 that it would supply cylindrical batteries for BMW's Neue Klasse pure electric models starting in 2026, covering both global and Chinese markets. This latest MOU upgrades that strategic partnership, deepening collaboration in battery technology, low-carbon supply chains, and mass production electrification, providing solid support for the Neue Klasse models' rollout.
FF Signs Upgrade Agreement with Hebei-based Bridge Strategy Partner
On Feb. 11, Faraday Future (FF) announced it had signed a series of upgrade agreements with its bridge strategic partner Hebei Huanzhou Automobile Sales Co., Ltd. The two parties will work together to push the FX Super One pure electric model through compliance certification, mass production, and delivery in the U.S. market.
Image source: Faraday Future
The seven agreements cover key areas such as mass production parts procurement, engineering services, and intellectual property licensing. They clearly define the scope of engineering services, IP ownership, and after-sales systems. The bridge partner will provide engineering and technical support during the mass production phase and beyond for the FX Super One.
Building on the smooth progress of the FX Super One project, the two sides further agreed to develop three potential models, including the FX 4, with plans to negotiate details soon. This move marks the entry of FF's EAI (Extreme AI) Global Industrial Bridge Strategy into a phase of large-scale implementation.
This collaboration facilitates the deep integration of China's technical expertise and supply chain advantages in AI electric vehicles with U.S. capabilities in R&D, engineering, and compliance, creating a synergy to expand in the American market.
JAC Group and Brembo Forge Strategic Partnership
On Feb. 5, JAC Group (JAC) signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Brembo, the global leader in braking solutions. The deal aims to strengthen long-term cooperation and drive innovation in future automotive platforms.
Image source: JAC Group
Under the agreement, Brembo and JAC will work together to upgrade braking technologies and implement advanced software solutions to meet the evolving demands of the Chinese market.
The agreement is a milestone for both sides. For JAC, it represents a critical step in upgrading its technology and brand; for Brembo, it is a key move to deepen its roots in China's smart EV market.
Supply Chain
Bosch and NIO Sign Strategic Cooperation Agreement
Bosch announced on Feb. 25 that, during German Chancellor Merz's first official visit to China, it had signed a strategic cooperation agreement with NIO.
Image source: Bosch
The agreement covers NIO's three brands — NIO, ONVO, and FIREFLY — focusing on deep collaboration in core smart EV technologies. Areas of cooperation include brake-by-wire chassis and battery management, specifically braking control, steering systems, drive systems, body electronics, and perception modules.
This partnership not only facilitates the efficient exchange of technology and resources between the two companies but also elevates cooperation between China and Germany in energy transition and high-end manufacturing. It aims to empower the global automotive industry's shift toward electrification and intelligence, promoting deeper integration of international supply chains and supporting sustainable development.
MINIEYE Teams Up with DST and Gecko Motors to Scale Automotive-Grade Autonomous Logistics
On Feb. 24, MINIEYE announced a strategic partnership with DST Green Tech (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. and Gecko Motors. The three parties will integrate resources to advance the design, production, and delivery of automotive-grade autonomous logistics vehicles, aiming to use scale effects to fill market gaps and capture core market share.
Image source: MINIEYE
The agreement outlines a commitment to "complementary advantages, collaborative development, and win-win creation." The trio aims to address the core needs of the unmanned logistics market by building a full-chain collaborative system spanning R&D, mass production, and market launch.
With the logistics industry under pressure to boost efficiency and cut costs, autonomous vehicles — capable of 24/7 operation and labor savings — have become a key solution. The market currently lacks scalable, automotive-grade mature products; this partnership aims to fill that void and create scale effects.
BASF and Gotion High-tech Sign Cooperation Agreement
On Feb. 10, Gotion High-tech and BASF officially signed a strategic MOU in Hefei. The two giants will join forces to develop next-generation solid-state battery technology, marking a new, systematic phase in Gotion's layout for the solid-state battery track.
Image source: BASF
The agreement centers on collaborative innovation, focusing on the joint R&D of high-performance materials for next-generation solid-state batteries. Gotion brings its industrialization capabilities in solid-state tech, while BASF contributes its R&D legacy in materials. Through joint battery and system design and targeted material R&D, the partners aim to break through technical bottlenecks in solid-state battery commercialization. They also plan to explore promoting these R&D results globally, accelerating the transition of innovations to the market for applications in new energy vehicles and energy storage.
This partnership between Gotion and BASF represents a deep alliance between a global materials giant and a leading domestic battery company in the solid-state battery sector.
Contemporary Amperex Intelligence Technology and Horizon Robotics Forge Strategic Partnership
On Feb. 9, Contemporary Amperex Intelligence Technology, a smart tech subsidiary of CATL, signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Horizon Robotics. The two will integrate chassis hardware and intelligent driving capabilities to provide global OEMs with solutions that offer higher integration and faster iteration speeds.
Image source: Contemporary Amperex Intelligence Technology
Under the agreement, Contemporary Amperex Intelligence Technology will provide its Panshi integrated smart chassis series. This chassis features a highly integrated design combining batteries, e-drives, thermal management, and a chassis domain controller, significantly improving efficiency. By decoupling the upper and lower vehicle bodies, the chassis supports parallel development of the body space and intelligent driving system, shortening the vehicle development cycle.
The core of this partnership is the deep fusion of an intelligent chassis carrier with high-level smart driving systems. Through software-hardware synergy and cross-domain integration, the two aim to achieve full-stack integration from the underlying architecture to the application layer, offering OEMs more competitive and flexible solutions.
Minth Group and Leaderdrive Plan Joint Venture
On Feb. 9, Minth Group announced on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that it had reached a framework agreement on key terms for a proposed joint venture in the U.S. with Leader Harmonious (Leaderdrive). The JV will focus on the design, manufacturing, and commercialization of humanoid robot joint module assemblies in North America.
Image source: Leaderdrive
Minth expects that in the joint venture, Minth California and Leaderdrive will hold 60% and 40% stakes, respectively. The initial capital contribution is projected at 10 million US dollars (approximately 78 million Hong Kong dollars), funded according to the initial shareholding ratios.
The combination of these two enterprises leverages their respective strengths to deepen cooperation in humanoid robot joint modules, driving industrial synergy and mutual benefit, and opening new growth spaces for both parties.
Hesai and Grab Forge Strategic Partnership
On Feb. 4, Hesai Technology announced a strategic partnership with Southeast Asian tech giant Grab (NASDAQ: GRAB). Under the agreement, Grab will become the exclusive distributor of Hesai's LiDAR products in Southeast Asia, handling sales, customer support, and marketing in the region.
Image source: Hesai Technology
Leveraging Grab's extensive resources and mature sales network in Southeast Asia, Hesai aims to boost the supply of high-quality, reliable LiDAR sensors, helping customers in the region access products more efficiently. This supports diverse applications, including robotic solutions and autonomous driving systems. In turn, Grab secures a stable supply of technology for its autonomous mobility and high-definition mapping businesses.
The partnership aims to drive the development of physical AI and embodied intelligence in Southeast Asia, helping the industry build a solid hardware foundation to ensure smart equipment operates safely and reliably in complex urban environments.
EVE Energy Teams Up with Indonesian Giants
On Feb. 3, EVE Energy, alongside Huayou Cobalt and PT Daaz Bara Lestari as part of the HYD Investment Limited joint venture, signed a framework agreement with Indonesian state mining company ANTAM and state battery company IBC. The parties will collaborate on a full new energy industry chain in Indonesia, marking a key advance in EVE Energy's globalization strategy.
Image source: EVE Energy
Under the agreement, the parties will conduct deep investment cooperation in Indonesia to build an integrated full-industry chain system — spanning upstream nickel resource development, midstream material processing, and downstream battery manufacturing and recycling. This initiative aims to improve the global industrial layout and create a sustainable new energy ecosystem.
EVE Energy's move to lay out a full new energy chain in Indonesia is a strategic deployment to deepen its global presence and a key measure to refine its localized supply chain, expanding into Southeast Asia and global markets.
ZF and BMW Sign Agreement
On Feb. 2, ZF Group announced in a statement that it had signed a long-term supply agreement with BMW Group for passenger car drive systems.
Image source: ZF
The agreement centers on the supply and continued development of the market-proven 8-speed automatic transmission (8HP). The contract, worth billions of euros, will remain valid until the late 2030s, laying a solid foundation for future open technology roadmaps and low-carbon mobility.
Locking in the supply and iteration of the 8HP transmission secures a competitive edge in luxury vehicle drivetrains with a multi-billion-euro long-term order. It supports multiple powertrain routes and low-carbon mobility, representing a win-win choice for technological maturity and long-term certainty during the industry transition.
