China’s largest EV battery manufacturer, Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Limited (CATL), announced this week that it plans to build 1,000 additional battery swapping stations in 2025, as it continues to address concerns over the availability of battery electric vehicle (BEV) charging facilities in the country.

Growth in Chinese-made BEV sales has slowed sharply this year, with volumes increasing by just 15% to 6.738 million units in the January-November period, while sales of plug-in hybrids soared by 85% to 4.519 million units, according to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

CATL said some of the swapping stations will be built in Macau and Hong Kong, where government efforts are being stepped up to encourage motorists to switch to BEVs. The company claims the new stations will allow owners to swap their batteries in as little as 100 seconds.

Earlier this week, CATL announced it had added a new partner, FAW Group’s Hongqi brand, to its battery swapping alliance after Changan Automobile joined in November. Its long list of members also includes GAC Group, BAIC, Geely, Nio, Great Wall Motors, SAIC Motor and Xpeng.

Through its Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology (CAES) subsidiary, CATL’s long-term goal is to have over 10,000 swapping stations in operation across the country. The company also offers battery rental services and works with its automotive partners to design batteries specifically tailored for its swapping services.

CATL’s founder and chairman, Robin Zeng Yuqun, said in a statement: “CATL is determined to promote the best EV battery technologies. As the market leader, we will join hands with our partners to create a sound ecosystem to achieve innovative breakthroughs.”