# 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.*

**Published:** September 11, 2026  
**By:** Lian Chen  
**Section:** Batteries & Electric Vehicles — China  
**Format:** Breaking  
**Confidence:** medium  
**Source:** https://eastasiabrief.com/batteries-ev/catl-expands-ev-battery-swap-grid-3-000-stations-244  
**Publisher:** East Asia Brief (https://eastasiabrief.com/)

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## What to know

- CATL targets over 3,000 operational swap stations across 216 cities by year-end
- GAC Aion ties modular swapping to taxi fleets that generate roughly 30% of brand volume
- Contracts for 1,000 expressway sites take effect Dec. 31 before 2027 network rollout

![A robotic arm maneuvers a modular battery pack over an electric car at an automated swap station beside a busy city street. (AI-generated image)](https://eastasiabrief.com/media/2026-09-11-b51cd0f81499.webp)
*A 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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Cite as: East Asia Brief, "CATL expands EV battery swap grid to 3,000 stations in China," September 11, 2026. https://eastasiabrief.com/batteries-ev/catl-expands-ev-battery-swap-grid-3-000-stations-244