Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor and CATL have signed a five-year cooperation agreement in Ningde, China, covering technology development and ecosystem building across the commercial vehicle sector.
According to a translated version of the statement, the tie up marks a shift for the two companies from a supply-demand relationship to “collaborative ecosystem” building across the supply chain.
It centres on two areas: technology development and standard-setting, and business model innovation.
Under the first strand, the companies will pursue technology development across commercial vehicle categories including tractors, dump trucks, cargo trucks, special-purpose vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, with the aim of accelerating new materials and systems and jointly formulating technical specifications for commercial vehicle batteries.
The second part covers business model innovation, including the development of battery bank schemes for commercial vehicles.
Through vehicle-battery separation and asset operation models, the companies aim to reduce upfront purchase costs and lifecycle operating risk for end users.
CATL said it would continue to draw on its product technology, delivery capabilities and lifecycle services to deepen cooperation with Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor.
In the statement, CATL said: “In the future, CATL will continue to leverage its leading product technology, large-scale delivery capabilities, and full lifecycle services to deepen comprehensive cooperation with Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor and jointly promote the high-quality and low-carbon development of the commercial vehicle industry.”
Last month, it was reported that Dongfeng Motor was preparing to enter Canada's electric vehicle (EV) market, capitalising on a low-tariff quota negotiated by Prime Minister Mark Carney earlier this year.
In May, Stellantis announced that it would manufacture EVs under Dongfeng luxury Voyah brand at its Rennes factory in France, as part of a broader European joint venture between the two carmakers.
In April, CATL presented a new fast-charging EV battery, which it claimed can charge from 10% to 98% in six minutes and 27 seconds in moderate temperatures.
