CATL expands EV battery swap grid to 3,000 stations in China
Contemporary Amperex Technology plans to connect 216 cities by year-end and add 1,000 expressway stations by 2027 to establish a nationwide modular battery exchange corridor.
LCBy Lian Chen, China bureau chief··Updated September 11, 2026·4 min read
ShareLinkedInXWhatsAppEmailA robotic arm maneuvers a modular battery pack over an electric car at an automated swap station beside a busy city street. (AI-generated image)
Contemporary Amperex Technology subsidiary Contemporary Amperex Energy Service detailed plans on Sept. 11, 2026, to expand its Choco-Swap network to more than 3,000 operating stations across China by year-end.
The 3,000 stations will cover 216 cities, allowing drivers in urban centers to reach a swap facility within 10 minutes. The footprint accounts for roughly 45% of China's commercial passenger swap infrastructure.
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China bureau chief — Lian Chen leads China coverage, reporting on EV and battery manufacturing scale, solar, and the export-control regime around critical inputs.
