CATL (SHE: 300750) and Baidu have joined forces in a strategic partnership to collaborate on the development of autonomous vehicles. This collaboration aims to leverage CATL’s expertise in batteries, battery swap products, and skateboard chassis, along with Baidu’s AI capabilities, to create innovative driverless vehicle products and business models.
The agreement was signed at CATL’s headquarters in Ningde, Fujian province, with Baidu founder and CEO Robin Li and CATL chairman and CEO Robin Zeng in attendance. The collaboration will focus on unmanned driving, digitalization, and intelligence to advance the development of driverless mobility services and AI applications in manufacturing.
Specifically, CATL’s power batteries, battery swap products, and skateboard chassis will be explored for integration into driverless vehicles. The goal is to offer users more convenient mobility services through competitive products and business models. Baidu will provide support for CATL’s digitalization efforts at the chip, platform, and application levels using its AI capabilities.
This partnership marks the first collaboration between the two companies. CATL is the global leader in power battery production, with a 37.9 percent market share in 2024, according to SNE Research. Baidu, on the other hand, has been a pioneer in China’s smart driving sector since 2013 and has launched six generations of robotaxis in the country.
Baidu’s autonomous driving service Apollo Go is currently available in over 10 cities in mainland China and received approval to test in Hong Kong last year. The company’s CEO, Robin Li, has expressed confidence in the growth of Apollo Go’s fleet and rides this year, with plans to expand partnerships with mobile service providers, cab companies, and fleet operators.
Apollo Go has transitioned to fully driverless operations nationwide and served 1.1 million trips in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking a 36 percent year-on-year increase. By January, the service had provided over 9 million cumulative trips to the public.
The collaboration between CATL and Baidu signifies a significant step towards the advancement of autonomous driving technology and the integration of AI in the automotive industry. With their combined expertise and resources, the two companies are well-positioned to drive innovation and shape the future of driverless mobility services.
