- The first model under the partnership will come from Epicland, a brand jointly developed by Dongfeng and Huawei.
- The report provides a timeline for the first model under the newly announced partnership, which aims to connect vehicle, battery swap station and cloud systems.
The battery swap partnership between Huawei’s automotive business and CATL (HKEX: 3750) reportedly plans to introduce its first model in 2027 under Epicland, a brand jointly developed by Dongfeng and Huawei.
Cailian reported the plan on Tuesday, without identifying the model. A day earlier, Huawei’s intelligent automotive business, Yinwang, or Newcool, signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with CATL and its battery swap operator.
The report provides an initial product timeline for the collaboration between Huawei’s intelligent automotive technology business and CATL’s battery swap network. The previously announced agreement did not specify any models or a service launch date.
Under the cooperation announced on October 19, Newcool formally joined CATL’s Choco swap ecosystem.
Newcool will work with strategic partners to make vehicles using Huawei Qiankun intelligent automotive solutions compatible with the Choco swap network and connect them to it, expanding access to battery swap services.
The partnership also includes Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology (CAES), CATL’s battery swap operator.
The 3 parties plan to connect vehicle, battery swap station and cloud systems, using real-time battery status and users’ travel patterns to anticipate energy needs and proactively arrange battery swaps.
Under the plan outlined in the earlier statement, vehicles would autonomously locate a station, enter it and align themselves, then drive away after completing a fully automated battery swap in 99 seconds. These capabilities are part of the cooperation roadmap.
Epicland launched its first model, the X9, on September 24 and began nationwide deliveries at Huawei’s Songshan Lake campus on October 18.
The X9 is a large, 3-row, 6-seat extended-range electric SUV, with Huawei Qiankun ADS 5 driver assistance fitted as standard across the lineup, along with the HarmonySpace 6 cockpit. The report did not identify the X9 as the battery swap model planned for 2027.
Epicland is among the brands developed by Huawei’s Qiankun business in partnership with domestic automakers. It is not part of the Huawei-led HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance) business.
The partnership will focus on vehicles using Huawei Qiankun solutions, aiming to deliver seamless energy replenishment for the autonomous driving era.
