Cai Jing Wang·2025-04-09 09:28Core Viewpoint - CATL is in talks to acquire a controlling stake in NIO's battery swapping business, NIO Energy, which operates the largest battery swapping network in China, with 3,246 stations built by April 2025, covering over 700 cities [1][2] Group 1: Acquisition Talks - CATL has proposed to acquire a controlling stake in NIO Energy following a strategic investment of up to 2.5 billion yuan [2] - NIO Energy is valued at over 10 billion yuan in its upcoming financing round [2] - Both companies have previously signed a strategic agreement to unify battery swapping standards and share network resources [1][4] Group 2: Investment and Expansion Plans - CATL plans to invest up to 2.5 billion yuan in NIO Energy and aims to build 10,000 battery swapping stations, targeting to replace one-third of China's gas stations [2] - CATL's long-term goal includes establishing 30,000 to 40,000 battery swapping stations [2] - The company holds a 37% share of the global power battery market and aims to create an ecological closed loop by integrating the industry chain [2] Group 3: Financial Performance and Challenges - NIO reported a revenue of 65.73 billion yuan in 2024, an 18.2% increase year-on-year, but faced a net loss of 22.4 billion yuan, widening by 8.1% [6] - The construction costs for NIO's battery swapping stations range from 1 million to 3 million yuan, indicating a significant financial burden [5][6] - NIO has been actively forming partnerships with other automakers to share the cost pressures associated with battery swapping [6]