Seres and CATL Expand Battery Partnership and Global Plans

Seres and CATL Deepen Long-Term Strategic Cooperation

On October 11, Seres Group Co., Ltd. (Seres) announced an agreement with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL) in Chongqing, China, to strengthen their long-term strategic cooperation. The agreement covers battery safety, industrial chain collaboration, and global ecosystem cooperation. Both companies intend to build on their existing relationship by expanding manufacturing capacity, developing battery-related services, and pursuing international market opportunities. The agreement also confirms that all models across the AITO lineup will continue to use CATL batteries over the long term, reinforcing the companies' ongoing collaboration in vehicle battery supply and supporting their broader strategic objectives.

AITO Models to Continue Using CATL Batteries

Under the agreement, every model in the AITO lineup will continue to be equipped with CATL batteries over the long term. This commitment establishes battery supply continuity as a central element of the partnership between Seres Group Co Ltd and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd. Their cooperation also includes battery safety, an important area of collaboration identified in the agreement. Although the announcement does not specify changes to battery specifications or individual vehicle programs, it makes clear that the existing supplier relationship will remain an integral part of the AITO lineup's long-term plans.

Seres Factory Project Targets More Than 20 GWh of Annual Capacity

The companies plan to accelerate construction of Phase II of the factory-within-a-factory project at the Seres Super Factory. Phase II is designed to provide annual production capacity of 10–12 GWh. Once both phases are completed, their combined planned annual production capacity will exceed 20 GWh. This expansion is a key manufacturing component of the agreement, connecting the companies' long-term battery cooperation with additional production infrastructure. The announcement does not specify a completion date for Phase II, but it identifies accelerating construction as a priority for the next stage of their collaboration.

Supercharging Networks and Battery Lifecycle Services

Another priority is the development of a supercharging ecosystem through cooperation on charging networks and battery services. The companies intend to establish a service system that covers the entire battery lifecycle. This initiative extends their collaboration beyond battery supply and manufacturing into supporting infrastructure and services associated with battery use. The announcement does not provide specific network deployment targets, service locations, investment amounts, or implementation dates. Nevertheless, the stated objective is to coordinate supercharging infrastructure and battery services within a broader ecosystem, complementing the partnership's manufacturing and battery safety priorities.

Joint Expansion Into Overseas Markets

Seres and CATL also plan to accelerate their global expansion by jointly pursuing opportunities in overseas markets, including Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. The agreement identifies these regions as areas for cooperation but does not name specific countries, market-entry dates, sales targets, or individual projects. The international expansion initiative forms one of three principal areas of collaboration, alongside manufacturing capacity and the supercharging ecosystem. Its inclusion indicates that the companies intend to extend their strategic relationship beyond their existing domestic activities, although the precise commercial arrangements and implementation schedule have not been disclosed.

CATL to Increase Investment in Chongqing

The agreement also specifies that CATL will continue increasing its investment in Chongqing. This commitment supports the city's efforts to develop a CNY 1 trillion-scale industrial cluster focused on high-end intelligent connected new energy vehicles (NEVs). The investment commitment links the companies' cooperation with Chongqing's wider industrial development ambitions. However, the announcement does not disclose the amount of additional investment, its allocation across projects, or a timetable for reaching the cluster's stated scale. The agreement therefore establishes a strategic direction for continued investment without providing further financial or implementation details.

Industry Impact & Outlook

The agreement strengthens the strategic connection between vehicle manufacturing and battery production by combining long-term battery supply commitments with manufacturing expansion, charging infrastructure development, and international ambitions. For Seres, continued CATL battery supply supports the AITO lineup, while the planned factory expansion provides a framework for increasing annual production capacity. For CATL, continued investment in Chongqing and cooperation on overseas markets broaden the scope of its relationship with Seres. Progress will depend on execution of the factory project, development of the proposed battery service ecosystem, and the realization of international expansion plans. The agreement also reinforces Chongqing's ambition to develop a major high-end intelligent connected NEV industrial cluster.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Seres and CATL announce on October 11?
The companies signed an agreement in Chongqing to deepen their long-term strategic cooperation across battery safety, manufacturing, services, and global expansion. The agreement confirms that all AITO models will continue using CATL batteries over the long term. It also outlines plans to accelerate a factory expansion project, develop a supercharging ecosystem with battery lifecycle services, and jointly pursue overseas markets. Additionally, CATL will continue increasing its investment in Chongqing to support the city's high-end intelligent connected NEV industrial development ambitions.

What is the planned battery production capacity of the Seres Super Factory project?
Phase II of the factory-within-a-factory project at the Seres Super Factory is planned to have annual production capacity of 10–12 GWh. Once Phases I and II are completed, their combined annual production capacity is expected to exceed 20 GWh. Seres and CATL have identified accelerating Phase II construction as a priority under their expanded cooperation agreement. The announcement does not specify the project's completion date, so the stated figures represent planned capacity rather than confirmation that the additional production capacity is already operational.

Which overseas markets are Seres and CATL targeting?
Seres and CATL plan to pursue joint expansion into overseas markets, specifically including Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. These regions are identified in the agreement as priorities for their international cooperation. The announcement does not identify individual countries, specific market-entry dates, sales targets, or detailed expansion projects. It therefore establishes the geographic direction of their plans without confirming particular launches or commercial outcomes. The overseas initiative is one of three principal cooperation areas, alongside battery manufacturing capacity expansion and development of a supercharging and battery services ecosystem.

How will CATL's investment support Chongqing's automotive industry?
CATL will continue increasing its investment in Chongqing under the agreement, supporting the city's ambition to develop a CNY 1 trillion-scale industrial cluster for high-end intelligent connected new energy vehicles. The announcement connects CATL's investment commitment with Chongqing's broader NEV industrial development objectives. However, it does not disclose the additional investment amount, specific projects, or a completion schedule for the industrial cluster. The agreement establishes continued investment as a strategic commitment, while the precise scale and timing of its implementation remain unspecified in the announcement.