On Thursday, the two companies announced that they would collaborate on an investigation into the creation of innovative business models and “competitive” driverless vehicles. The businesses will collaborate to develop and implement CATL’s power batteries, battery-swapping products and services, and skateboard chassis technology in driverless cars as part of a strategic agreement focused on digital intelligence and autonomous driving.
The agreement was signed by Shi Qinghua, vice president of Baidu, and Liu Changyan, vice president of domestic passenger car product lines at CATL, on behalf of their respective businesses. The companies will concentrate on digitalization, AI-powered manufacturing, and driverless mobility services as part of this partnership.
As part of this partnership, autonomous vehicles will incorporate skateboard chassis, power batteries, and battery swap solutions from CATL. To expand mobility services, the businesses intend to develop innovative business strategies and competitive driverless vehicle models. To assist CATL in its digital transformation at the chip, platform, and application levels, Baidu will contribute to its AI capabilities. Apollo, Baidu’s autonomous driving unit, also confirmed the partnership, making it the first time the two companies have worked together.
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According to SNE Research, CATL is the largest power battery manufacturer in the world, with a global installed capacity of 339.3 GWh in 2024, representing 37.9 percent of the market. Since 2013, Baidu has been a major player in China’s autonomous driving industry. It has introduced six generations of robotaxis and runs Apollo Go, a self-driving taxi service that is available in over ten Chinese cities. Apollo Go was granted permission to test in Hong Kong in November, expanding beyond mainland China.
The service handled approximately 1.1 million trips in the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of 36% year-over-year. Apollo Go had provided over 9 million rides altogether by January. Apollo Go’s fleet and ride volume are anticipated to expand at an unprecedented rate this year, according to Baidu CEO Robin Li. Mobile service providers, local taxi companies, and fleet operators have been identified as potential collaborators by Baidu in its ongoing search for additional partnerships.