As of August 2025, 512 Chocolate Battery Swap Stations have been deployed in 34 cities nationwide, with the company targeting 1,000 stations by year-end.
On October 14, CATL’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. (CATL) Service, announced a collaboration with JD Auto and GAC Group to launch a new electric vehicle, officially positioned as a “nationally accessible car.”
The model is slated for an official release during JD.com’s Double Eleven shopping event and will be exclusively available through the “CATL Chocolate JD Self-operated Flagship Store.”
Consumers can participate in a co-creation program via the JD app, allowing them to pre-book test drives and provide feedback on the vehicle.
The collaboration aims to integrate the three companies’ strengths to advance vehicle safety, battery technology, and recharging services, while exploring a one-stop automotive consumption model.
The partnership leverages each party’s core advantages: CATL provides leading battery technology and the Chocolate battery swap ecosystem; GAC contributes expertise in smart manufacturing, comprehensive safety technology, and global R&D; JD brings consumer insights and omnichannel sales and service capabilities.
One notable feature is the “all-in-one” consumer model. Customers can select optional packages—ranging from car covers and accessories to maintenance services—on top of the standard vehicle, covering the full car ownership lifecycle and reducing post-purchase operations and costs.
Following the announcement, some media reports interpreted the collaboration as JD’s entry into the automotive industry. JD clarified that it is participating as a co-launcher providing consumer insights and exclusive sales services, without direct involvement in vehicle manufacturing.
This collaboration continues the parties’ ongoing efforts in the new energy sector. In May of last year, GAC Aion, a GAC subsidiary, signed a framework agreement with CATL and CATL Service to collaborate on battery swap projects, covering EV development, battery module production and circulation, vehicle and battery data management, and after-sales services.
In December of last year, CATL Service and JD Auto’s JD Car Maintenance established a strategic partnership to build integrated battery testing and swap stations, advancing the management system for “Chocolate Battery Swap Stations.”
As of the end of August 2025, the Chocolate Battery Swap Station network had been deployed in 34 cities across China with a total of 512 stations.
In August alone, 105 stations were added and 103 went online, marking the first time monthly figures exceeded 100. The company aims to build 1,000 stations nationwide by the end of 2025.
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