CATL, partners to co-deploy battery swappable vehicles in Hong Kong

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On June 13, Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology Ltd. ("CAES"), a subsidiary of CATL, along with Contemporary Amperex Xiaoju New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. ("Xiaoju New Energy"), FAW Import and Export Corporation, and Dragon Rise New Energy Holdings Limited ("Dragon Rise"), signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Hong Kong, according to a post on the WeChat account of Choco-Swap, CATL's battery swapping service platform.

Photo credit:  Choco-Swap

The four parties will jointly advance the large-scale deployment of battery-swappable commercial vehicles in Hong Kong and commence construction of battery swapping infrastructure. The agreement marks a major milestone in the rollout of CATL's standardized "Choco-Swap" model in the Hong Kong–Macao region.

Back in January this year, CATL, FAW Hongqi, and Dragon Rise announced the groundbreaking of Hong Kong's first passenger car battery swapping station—also the city's first Choco-Swap facility—on Ping Che Road in Fanling, New Territories.

As part of the broader plan, the trio aims to build a network of Choco-Swap stations across Hong Kong and introduce the Hongqi E-QM5 all-electric taxis. The long-term vision is to create a new energy vehicle mobility network that not only covers Hong Kong but also extends into ASEAN markets, supporting the region's transition to sustainable transportation.

Under the newly signed agreement, the four parties will jointly deliver an integrated Choco-Swap solution featuring "2-minute ultra-fast battery swapping," "cost reduction via vehicle-battery separation," and "full life-cycle battery management." According to the plan, ten battery swapping stations will be built across Hong Kong by the end of 2026, creating a city-wide battery swapping network.

Each party brings distinct responsibilities to the collaboration: FAW Group will lead vehicle development and after-sales service; CAES will manage battery asset operations and recycling; Xiaoju New Energy will provide digital operation support for the battery swap stations; and Dragon Rise will oversee local infrastructure development and vehicle deployment.

According to official statements, the partnership begins in Hong Kong with the goal of establishing a globally competitive new energy vehicle ecosystem. Leveraging Hong Kong's strategic location, the initiative aims to expand into Southeast Asia and accelerate the global application of the Choco-Swap battery-swapping model, driven by user demand.