Seres Group and CATL have signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Chongqing, deepening their long-standing partnership and expanding their collaborative manufacturing model. The agreement, signed on October 10, was attended by senior officials from the Chongqing municipal government and the Liangjiang New Area, along with Seres chairman Zhang Xinghai and CATL chairman Robin Zeng, according to Gasgoo.
Since the launch of the AITO brand, all its models have been equipped with CATL batteries. The partnership has supported rapid market growth, with cumulative AITO deliveries surpassing 1.2 million units. The new agreement ensures that AITO models will continue to use CATL batteries across the lineup, locking in a stable supply chain advantage.
Five areas of cooperation
The agreement outlines cooperation in five key areas: battery safety technology iteration, deep supply chain collaboration, capacity co-building, charging ecosystem, and global expansion. In terms of production capacity, the two companies will continue to expand their 'factory within a factory' model, which places CATL battery production lines inside Seres' vehicle plants. This approach shortens delivery times and improves supply chain responsiveness.
On the ecosystem side, the partners will jointly build an integrated charging and energy storage system to enhance the supporting infrastructure for new energy vehicles. This includes ultra-fast charging stations and energy storage solutions, aiming to provide a seamless experience for EV owners.
Both companies will also accelerate their global collaboration, leveraging their respective technology, channels, and manufacturing strengths to jointly explore overseas markets. This supports AITO's international expansion strategy. Additionally, CATL will increase its investment in the Chongqing region, contributing to the local new energy vehicle industry and helping Chongqing build a trillion-yuan high-end intelligent connected NEV industry cluster.
Deepening ties
The signing marks a new phase in the partnership between Seres and CATL, which began with the AITO brand's inception. The 'factory within a factory' model has been a key element of their collaboration, allowing for tighter integration of battery production with vehicle assembly. This model is expected to be further expanded under the new agreement.
The deepening partnership comes as China's EV market becomes increasingly competitive, with automakers and battery suppliers seeking closer ties to secure supply and reduce costs. Seres, which also produces vehicles for Huawei's HarmonyOS ecosystem, has seen strong demand for its AITO models, including the M5, M7, and M9 SUVs.
CATL, the world's largest battery maker, has been expanding its partnerships with automakers globally, including Tesla, BMW, and Volkswagen. The company's focus on innovation and safety has made it a preferred partner for many EV manufacturers. The new agreement with Seres underscores CATL's strategy of deepening relationships with key customers.
