Schaeffler and Chinese battery giant CATL have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to deepen their collaboration in the field of e-mobility.
The agreement builds on an ‘already secured customer project’ and covers the joint development of automotive Battery Management Systems (BMS) as well as “X-in-1” Integrated PowerBox (IPB) solutions.
Through this collaboration, both companies are expanding their strategic partnership and combining their technological and industrial strengths to advance innovative electrification solutions for the European market and beyond.
Joint development of BMS and IPB solutions
The partnership focuses on two strategic technology areas. First, Schaeffler and CATL intend to jointly develop BMS solutions tailored to the specific requirements of European automotive manufacturers. Second, the partners plan to develop “X-in-1” IPB solutions that enable the close integration of high-voltage electronics and electromechanical systems.
By combining their complementary strengths, the two companies say they are creating the foundation for high-performance, highly integrated and competitive electrification solutions.
Schaeffler says it offers comprehensive expertise across the entire BMS value chain, covering hardware and software development, system integration, functional safety, testing and validation, as well as localized series production in Europe. CATL contributes its extensive expertise in cell producing technology, battery system development, and high-volume industrialization. The capabilities of both companies complement each other ideally and provide a strong foundation for a long-term collaboration in the European battery electrification market.
“Thanks to our established footprint in Europe, Schaeffler offers extensive expertise in local R&D, manufacturing, market entry and regulatory compliance, enabling us to deliver end-to-end support for project rollouts,” said Thomas Stierle, CEO E-Mobility at Schaeffler AG. “Through our partnership with CATL, we aim to build a competitive product portfolio for the European market and beyond, delivering long-term value to global OEMs and Chinese automakers expanding overseas.”
Industrial synergies driving Europe’s electrification
As electrification continues to advance across Europe and regional supply chains continue to be reshaped, Schaeffler says demand is growing for ‘highly integrated e-mobility solutions that meet the highest standards of performance, safety and efficiency’. In this environment, it maintains that close collaboration across the industrial value chain is becoming increasingly important. It acts as a ‘key lever for bringing new energy technologies into mass productions more quickly and accelerating their broader market adoption’.
Dr. Bruce Li, Executive President of Quality Systems at CATL, said: “We are pleased to enter into this strategic partnership with Schaeffler. As a leading lithium-ion battery manufacturer, CATL has long been committed to cell producing technology and has strong capabilities in product definition, battery system design and core battery algorithms. With a strong presence across Europe and extensive operational experience, we have gained deep insight into local customer needs and regional industry standards. This cooperation is based on our complementary strengths in battery management systems.
“We share identical strategic directions and a common vision for industry development. Going forward, we will co-develop BMS and ‘X-in-1’ integrated PowerBox solutions designed for the European market and further explore applications of cutting-edge technologies including cloud computing and artificial intelligence in battery management scenarios. Together with Schaeffler, CATL will advance the high-quality development of Europe’s new-energy automobile industry and contribute to sustainable mobility worldwide.”
