CATL has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the BMW Group in Beijing to strengthen collaboration on pilot projects on ‘trusted data exchange and decarbonization across the power battery supply chain’. CATL said the step means ‘elevating the partnership between the two companies in sustainable development and technological innovation to a new level’.

The agreement was signed during the recent visit of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to China, alongside a high-level German business delegation.

Under the MoU, CATL and the BMW Group will collaborate on pilot projects on cross-border data transfer under the ‘Battery Passport’ scenario, deepening cooperation in exploring trusted data exchange, carbon accounting methodologies and innovative accounting tools for calculating battery carbon footprints.

Leveraging the standardised trusted automotive data ecosystem Catena-X, the pilot projects are to support technical standards alignment, drive coherent and science-driven policy frameworks, and to foster long-term industrial stability.

CATL and BMW have entered strategic partnership since 2012, building collaboration across battery production, joint research and development, and sustainable supply chains. The new MoU expands the partnership from product-level cooperation to broader institutional coordination, reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing electric mobility.

By exploring trusted data exchange and aligning carbon accounting approaches, both companies aim to strengthen trust through transparency and contribute to a more resilient global automotive ecosystem.

CATL says it will continue to pursue open cooperation with international partners, leveraging technological innovation to drive global green transition and shape a sustainable future for the automotive sector worldwide.