Joint Strength to Shape the Future of E-mobility
BBA and CATL Extend Long-Term Strategic Partnership

(Beijing) On July 17th, BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. (BBA) and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement in Beijing to further extend their long-standing partnership in China. With the agreement, CATL becomes BBA’s strategic partner of Lithium-ion cells and will provide a long-term supply of next-generation high-voltage battery cells for all BBA New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) . BBA will also purchase from CATL a project to build battery production capacity in Ningde, Fujian Province, China, which will be used to produce high-voltage battery cells for BBA. The agreement follows the recent announcement by CATL to build a battery-cell factory in Erfurt, Germany, to supply BMW AG’s NEVs with next-generation cell technology.

By extending its partnership with CATL, BBA is reinforcing its “In China, For China” NEV ecosystem, which comprises the complete NEV life cycle from production to recycling of batteries and cells. All cells for BBA’s China-produced NEVs are provided by CATL, the Ningde-based battery giant.

Dr. Johann Wieland, President & CEO, BMW Brilliance, said: “BMW Brilliance and CATL have a special relationship that dates back to 2011. We were CATL’s first automotive customer, with the first CATL automotive battery applied in a BMW Brilliance NEV. We have since supported CATL to develop into the world-leading producer of automotive battery cells. So, we take great pride in the enormous success of CATL and are looking forward to an even stronger and closer partnership with this new strategic cooperation agreement. I am convinced that together we will drive forward e-mobility and continue to shape the automotive landscape in China.”

Dr. Robin Zeng, Chairman of the Board, CATL, said: "We are delighted to deepen our cooperation with BMW Brilliance. Today’s agreement is a very important milestone in CATL’s development, that will be crucial in maintaining our long-term sustainable competitiveness. CATL is committed to becoming a world-class technology innovation company. In the future, CATL will spare no effort and continue to work side-by-side with BMW Brilliance and BMW AG, not only in China, but also in Europe and the World. Together, we will build the world’s most advanced NEV products and better serve the global market.”

The agreement signed today provides BBA with a long-term and sustainable solution for its increasing demand for battery cells. CATL will benefit from BBA's expertise in Industry 4.0 production and E-mobility innovation, strengthening CATL’s leading position in the field of high-voltage battery and laying the solid foundation for global expansion. Through the strengthening of this partnership, the two companies are extending their win-win cooperation in one of China’s core technologies.