March 6, 2026: Chinese battery major CATL and European auto giant BMW have agreed to strengthen work on pilot projects and collaborate on cross-border data exchange in relation to the EU’s Battery Passport scheme.
The partners said the move would support “innovative practices” for China-EU regulatory compliance as well as drive the demonstration and wider adoption of global battery information and data standards.
Under the memorandum of understanding signed in Beijing on February 25, the firms said they would also bolster their cooperation in sustainable development and take technological innovation to a new level.
Data exchange will include carbon accounting methodologies and innovative accounting tools for calculating battery carbon footprints.
Pilot projects will use Catena-X to support technical standards alignment, drive coherent and science-driven policy frameworks, and to foster long-term industrial stability, the partners said.
Catena-X is the first open and collaborative data ecosystem designed specifically for the automotive industry. It enables sovereign, standardized, and secure data exchange across the entire value chain – from OEMs and suppliers to mid-sized companies.
CATL and BMW have been working together on areas including battery production and R&D since 2012.
The firms said the new agreement expands the partnership from product-level cooperation to broader institutional coordination, reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing electric mobility.
Batteries International reported in 2024 that Chinese battery testing firm, Shenzhen Precise Testing Technology, had formed a partnership with Minespider, a technology company offering a blockchain-based traceability platform and EU-compliant battery passports.
The partnership aims to simplify compliance for Chinese battery manufacturers and market players with EU Battery Regulations, as well as streamlining the flow of batteries between Europe and China.
Earlier this year, China said it was preparing to launch a digital battery passport-style scheme aimed at boosting recycling and traceability in the new energy vehicle sector.
Unlike the EU battery passport scheme coming into force — which critics say has fundamental reporting difficulties in its cradle-to-grave approach — the Chinese scheme is less focused on the initial stages of sourcing before the battery is manufactured.
