Huawei's Newcool joins CATL's Choco battery-swap ecosystem, with an Epicland model reportedly planned for 2027

Huawei's automotive unit signs on to CATL's swap network

Huawei's intelligent automotive business, which trades as Yinwang or Newcool, has signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with battery maker CATL and its battery-swap operator CAES to jointly develop a smart battery-swap ecosystem, according to a CATL statement issued on Monday, October 19, 2026, and reported by CnEVPost. Caixin Global reported the deal the following day, describing it as a partnership between the automotive spinoff and battery giant CATL on automated battery swapping. ²⁵

The agreement will focus on vehicles using Huawei's Qiankun intelligent automotive solutions, making them compatible with CATL's Choco-swap network and covering both swappable battery packs and the station network, per the companies' statements as reported by Electrek. Caixin characterises the deal as an effort by two of China's biggest auto suppliers to deepen ties with carmakers amid intensifying competition. ²³⁵⁷

CATL chairman and CEO Robin Zeng and Huawei senior vice president and Newcool CEO Jin Yuzhi attended the signing, with CATL co-president of marketing Yang Jun also present, according to CnEVPost's account of the statement. S&P Global Autotech Insight similarly reported that Newcool signed the agreement to develop a smart battery-swap ecosystem leveraging CATL's network of 2,520 stations. ⁴⁵

Newcool grew out of Huawei's intelligent automotive solution business and was formally established as a separate company in January 2024. Huawei currently holds an 80 per cent stake, while Seres and Avatr, the EV unit of Changan Automobile, each hold 10 per cent, CnEVPost reports. CnEVPost adds that in April 2026, Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group (JAC) announced plans to invest in Newcool without disclosing the proposed amount, and completion of that transaction has yet to be announced. ⁵

What the proposed ecosystem would do

Under the plan outlined in the statement, the three parties intend to integrate data and services across vehicles, swap stations and the cloud, using real-time battery status and users' travel patterns to anticipate energy needs and proactively schedule battery swaps, CnEVPost reports. Vehicles would independently determine when they need energy, locate and enter a station, align themselves for the swap and drive away afterwards. ⁵

CATL quotes 99 seconds for the automated swap itself, a figure also cited by Electrek and by UA.News carrying Electrek's reporting. CnEVPost notes this is similar to functionality Nio already offers at some of its stations, where vehicles can automatically enter and complete a swap using navigation-assisted driving. As CnEVPost states explicitly, these capabilities are part of the cooperation roadmap, and the announcement did not identify specific models, a service launch date or initial coverage areas. ¹³⁵⁷

Epicland reportedly first in line for 2027

A day after the agreement, Cailianshe reported, as carried by CnEVPost, that the partnership plans to introduce its first model in 2027 under Epicland, a brand jointly developed by Dongfeng and Huawei. The report did not identify the model, and CnEVPost notes the earlier agreement itself specified no models or launch date. ¹

CnEVPost's report notes that 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 described as a large three-row, six-seat extended-range electric SUV with Huawei Qiankun ADS 5 driver assistance standard and the HarmonySpace 6 cockpit. The report did not identify the X9 as the battery-swap model planned for 2027, and the brand sits outside Huawei's HIMA alliance. ¹

The Choco-swap network behind the deal

CATL entered battery swapping in 2022 with its EVOGO service and relaunched the business as Choco-swap with standardised packs at the end of 2024, according to Electrek's account. The network ended 2025 with 1,020 stations, passed 2,000 in early July 2026 and stood at 2,520 stations across about 200 Chinese cities as of September 29, 2026, per the companies' statements reported by Electrek and CnEVPost. Electrek adds that CATL is building more than 200 stations a month, aiming for more than 3,000 by year-end and 30,000 long term. ³⁵⁷

Earlier context from Caixin's May 2025 in-depth shows the scale of CATL's ambitions: founder and chairman Zeng Yuqun announced plans for 1,000 Chinese stations, and CATL partnered with Nio, Sinopec and Didi, while five automakers including FAW, Changan and GAC committed to 10 swap-compatible EV models. CnEVPost also notes previously announced plans for 1,000 highway swap stations in 2026 and 2027 across 11 north-south and 9 east-west corridors. Existing Choco partners include GAC, BAIC and NIO, per Electrek. ⁵⁶

Framework status and open questions

Multiple outlets flag the agreement's preliminary nature. Electrek observes that no vehicle models, launch date or service areas were announced, and that framework agreements do not always turn into products. UA.News, carrying Electrek's reporting, likewise notes that specific models, launch timelines and service regions have not been announced. ³⁷

Cailianshe's 2027 Epicland timeline is a report rather than a company confirmation, and no swap-compatible model has been named by the companies. CATL's own stated focus is on adapting vehicles running Huawei's Qiankun systems for Choco stations, per Electrek's account of the statement, so the eventual first vehicle remains an open question pending manufacturer confirmation. ¹³