Yinwang, CATL and Shidai Dianfu sign battery-swap cooperation agreement
In short
On 19 October, Yinwang Intelligent Technology, CATL and Shidai Dianfu signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement on a smart battery-swap ecosystem. The three sides plan to link vehicle, station and cloud systems through CATL's Chocolate swap network and Huawei Qiankun intelligent driving. CLS reported on 20 October that the first model is planned for 2027 under the Yijing brand.
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Yinwang Intelligent Technology (引望智能技术有限公司), CATL and Shidai Dianfu (时代电服科技有限公司) signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement on 19 October, CLS, Jiemian and Yicai reported. According to IT Home, which cited an announcement by Huawei Qiankun intelligent car solutions, the three sides will cooperate fully on a smart battery-swap ecosystem for new-energy vehicles under an agreement titled the Intelligent Energy Replenishment Ecosystem Strategic Cooperation Agreement (《智能化补能生态战略合作协议》). [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
CLS and Jiemian described two directions of cooperation. The three sides will link vehicle, station and cloud systems through deep integration of CATL's Chocolate (巧克力) swap network with Huawei Qiankun intelligent driving. Yinwang will formally join the Chocolate swap ecosystem and, with strategic partners, work on adapting cooperating models to the network and connecting them to it. [ 1 , 3 ]
The agreement also provides for stronger cooperation on swap batteries and swap networks. IT Home, Yicai and Jiemian said the integration would let a vehicle work out its energy need, find a station, enter, align, complete a 99-second fully automatic swap and drive off. They said this would rely on real-time battery status and the user's travel patterns. The ceremony was held in Ningde, Fujian, on 19 October. Attendees included CATL chairman and CEO Zeng Yuqun (曾毓群), Huawei senior vice president and Yinwang CEO Jin Yuzhi (靳玉志) and CATL market-system co-president Yang Jun (杨峻). [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Yicai reported, citing multiple channels, that cooperating models equipped with Huawei Qiankun intelligent driving will gradually connect to the Chocolate ecosystem. It also said Yijing (奕境), the vehicle brand Huawei developed with Dongfeng, has taken swap versions into consideration for new models. Yicai described this as the first major cooperation since Yang Jun, who is Shidai Dianfu CEO and head of CATL's swap business, succeeded Han Wei (韩伟) as co-president of the market system. On 20 October, CLS reported that the first model from the cooperation is planned for 2027 and will be a Yijing product. IT Home repeated that report. [ 4 , 8 , 9 ]
IT Home and Yicai said Yinwang launched the 10-minute Qiankun intelligent driving life circle at the end of 2025. According to them, convenient payment covers more than 300,000 car parks, smart charging covers 2 million charging stations and smart car care covers more than 3,000 car washes. Jiemian added that, as of the end of September 2026, CATL's Chocolate network had built more than 2,520 swap stations in about 200 cities across 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Caixin said Yinwang was formerly Huawei's smart car solution business unit. It said the unit's assets were injected into Yinwang in January 2025, and that Avatr, a subsidiary of Changan Automobile, and Seres each invested 11.5 billion yuan for a 10% stake. Caixin added that Yinwang has worked with GAC Group and Dongfeng Group on the Qijing (启境) and Yijing brands. [ 6 ]
Why it matters
The agreement ties Huawei Qiankun intelligent driving to CATL's Chocolate swap network, and Yicai reported that cooperating models will gradually connect to it. Yicai noted that Geely, NIO, Yinwang and CATL are among the companies in the swap field. The documents give no dates for most of the integration, so practical effects remain to be seen.
Key facts
- Yinwang, CATL and Shidai Dianfu (时代电服) signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement on 19 October. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 8 ]
- The agreement is titled the Intelligent Energy Replenishment Ecosystem Strategic Cooperation Agreement (《智能化补能生态战略合作协议》), according to IT Home, Yicai and Jiemian. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Yinwang formally joins CATL's Chocolate (巧克力) battery-swap ecosystem and will work with strategic partners on adapting cooperating models to the network and connecting them to it. [ 1 , 3 , 8 ]
- The documents describe a fully intelligent loop in which the vehicle determines its energy need, finds a station, enters, aligns, completes a 99-second fully automatic swap and drives off. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- The signing ceremony took place in Ningde, Fujian, with CATL chairman and CEO Zeng Yuqun (曾毓群), Huawei senior vice president and Yinwang CEO Jin Yuzhi (靳玉志) and CATL market-system co-president Yang Jun (杨峻) attending. [ 2 , 5 ]
- As of the end of September 2026, CATL's Chocolate swap network had more than 2,520 stations in about 200 cities across 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, Jiemian reported. [ 5 ]
- CLS reported that the first model from the Huawei Yinwang and CATL Chocolate swap cooperation is planned for 2027 under the Yijing (奕境) brand. [ 8 , 9 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Yinwang, CATL and Shidai Dianfu signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement on 19 October on a smart battery-swap ecosystem for new-energy vehicles. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The cooperation links vehicle, station and cloud systems through deep integration of Huawei Qiankun intelligent driving and CATL's Chocolate swap network. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- The signing ceremony was held in Ningde, Fujian, on 19 October. [ 2 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the first model under the cooperation will arrive in 2027 as a Yijing product. Only CLS reported this, citing its own reporter's information; IT Home repeated the CLS report. The other outlets do not mention a model or date.
- Which models will be connected to the Chocolate network and when. Yicai said, citing multiple channels, that cooperating models with Qiankun intelligent driving will gradually connect, and that Yijing has taken swap versions into consideration for new models. The documents give no list of models or dates.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On 19 October, CLS reported the signing of the strategic cooperation framework agreement. [ 1 ]
- On 19 October, IT Home published the Huawei Qiankun announcement of the smart battery-swap cooperation. [ 2 ]
- On 19 October, Yicai reported that cooperating Qiankun models will gradually connect to the Chocolate network. [ 4 ]
- On 20 October, Jiemian published a flash report on the cooperation and the Chocolate network's station count. [ 5 ]
- On 20 October, CLS reported that the first model is planned for 2027 under the Yijing brand. [ 8 ]