Li Auto, CATL forge 5-year strategic partnership in battery safety, supercharging tech fields

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Li Auto has signed a new five-year strategic cooperation agreement with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (“CATL”), reinforcing their long-standing partnership in battery technology and electric mobility. The agreement, finalized on September 18, was marked by a licensing ceremony and sets the stage for deeper collaboration in several critical areas.

Photo credit: Li Auto

Under the deal, the two companies will work closely on battery safety, ultra-fast charging technologies, and international market expansion. CATL will continue to supply Li Auto's full vehicle lineup with a wide range of advanced battery systems, including ternary lithium, M3P, lithium iron phosphate, and sodium-ion batteries.

The partnership builds on a solid track record: more than one million Li Auto vehicles powered by CATL batteries have already been delivered without a single thermal runaway incident attributed to the cells themselves. CATL has consistently emphasized innovation and rigorous safety standards as part of its commitment to reliable battery performance.

Both companies describe the new agreement as a significant deepening of cooperation, positioning them to deliver safer, more efficient, and smarter mobility solutions. The tie-up also underscores Li Auto's ambitions to accelerate its global presence while leveraging CATL's dominant role in the battery industry.

The move comes amid a flurry of activity for CATL, which just a day earlier signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd. ("China Huaneng"). That deal aims to conduct collaboration in manufacturing, renewable energy, energy storage, R&D, and nuclear power, reflecting CATL's broader push to diversify its business beyond automotive applications.