CATL's CAES, GAC AION launch battery-swap-enabled AION S Xuan model with first 500 units delivered in Beijing

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On August 15, Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology ("CAES"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CATL, and GAC AION held a ceremony in Beijing to mark the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement and the delivery of their first batch of vehicles, according to a post on CAES' WeChat account.

At the ceremony, the two companies formalized an agreement covering 3,000 units of the AION S Xuan available for CAES' "Choco-Swap" battery-swapping system. The first 500 vehicles were handed over on-site.

Photo credit: CAES

In the meantime, CAES also unveiled its station rollout plan for Beijing and northern China. It aims to have around 40 battery swap stations operational in Beijing by the end of this year, with more than 100 expected by 2026. The company said its core network will enable drivers in key areas to access a swap within a ten-minute radius.

The first 500 AION S Xuan battery-swap-enabled vehicles are being deployed in Beijing's ride-hailing fleet, where operators can replenish energy in as little as two minutes. The model is designed to boost fleet utilization by minimizing downtime compared with conventional charging.

CAES's Choco-Swap facilities are already expanding rapidly across northern China, with stations established in cities including Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Harbin, Changchun, Shenyang, and Dalian. The company is targeting 180 sites in the region by the end of 2025.

The agreement marks a deeper step in the two companies' push toward ecosystem-level collaboration. Going forward, GAC AION plans to roll out battery swappable versions across its entire model lineup, combining CAES' ultra-fast energy replenishment with the brand's broader push for an enhanced urban mobility experience.