以下文章来源于36氪汽车 ，作者李勤 36氪汽车 . 看懂汽车产业新百年。36氪旗下智能电动车产业报道公号。 "宁王"拿回份额，战斗力和品牌的多重攻势 文 ｜ 李勤 编辑 ｜ 杨轩 来源｜ 36氪汽车（ID：EV36kr） 封面来源 ｜ IC Photo 因此，试着和电池龙头掰一掰手腕，不光是小米，也是不少头部造车公司的想法。 而对于宁德时代来说，这是一场不容再退让的防御战。 这是一场顶级企业之间的角力。 两位万亿集团的掌舵人，宁德时代董事长曾毓群、小米集团董事长雷军，今年年中在小米总部进行了一场气氛和谐、但相持不下的谈判晚宴。 曾毓群跟雷军试图"重谈条件"。据多位车企人士讲述，宁德时代的前乘用车销售负责人朱威在任时，曾向不少车企口头承诺过后续的返利条件。但2024年 底，朱威换岗，宁德时代调整销售体系架构，这些"承诺"面临重新商定。 谈判焦灼点在于，小米希望能落地这些返利条件，宁德时代的立场是，让利需要对应更多的供货份额；但小米汽车一开始就设定好了顶层供应链框架，要维 持电池供应的平衡局面。不久后，也在小米总部，雷军将会见另一家电池供应商比亚迪的老板王传福。 小米的第一款车SU7，宁德时代的电池供货占比高达 ...

Core Viewpoint - CATL is accelerating its skateboard chassis business, focusing on commercial vehicles and specific scenarios like Robotaxi, aiming for breakthroughs in the mid-to-low-end passenger car market [1][15]. Financing and Business Development - CATL's subsidiary, Times Intelligent, is in the process of raising 2 billion yuan in its first external financing round, with a pre-financing valuation of approximately 9 billion yuan [2]. - Times Intelligent, established in 2021, specializes in battery-centric skateboard chassis products and services, and is now opening up equity to external capital for the first time [2][3]. - The financing is driven by the need to alleviate financial pressure due to limited group funding and underperformance in expected sales from partnerships, particularly with Nezha Auto [5]. Technological Advancements - The skateboard chassis, known as CIIC, integrates battery and electric drive systems, allowing for a decoupled design that can adapt to various vehicle bodies [3]. - Recent collaborations with automakers like BAIC, JAC, and Changan Mazda are expected to yield new models by 2026-2027 [7]. Strategic Considerations - CATL's entry into the skateboard chassis market is motivated by the need to bundle its battery business and counteract declining growth rates in its core battery segment [7]. - The company's gross margin has decreased from 43.7% in 2016 to 24.4% in 2024, with market share dropping from 52.1% in 2021 to 43.4% in the first half of 2023 [7]. Market Challenges and Opportunities - The skateboard chassis concept, while historically facing challenges, is now seen as having potential due to its ability to shorten development cycles and reduce costs for electric vehicles [12][13]. - However, third-party chassis companies face challenges in gaining acceptance from traditional automakers, who may prefer to develop their own chassis for differentiation [14]. Future Prospects - CATL is targeting commercial vehicles, specific scenarios like Robotaxi, and cost-effective mid-to-low-end passenger cars as key areas for growth [15]. - A strategic partnership with T3 Mobility aims to advance the development of Robotaxi based on CATL's skateboard chassis platform [15].

Core Viewpoint - CATL is accelerating its skateboard chassis business, with the first round of external financing for its subsidiary, Times Intelligent, amounting to 2 billion yuan and a pre-financing valuation of approximately 9 billion yuan [2][4]. Financing and Business Development - Times Intelligent, established in 2021, focuses on battery-centric skateboard chassis products and services, and is now opening up equity to external capital for the first time [2][4]. - The financing round is led by well-known market investment institutions, with participation from both new energy industry capital and state-owned capital [2][4]. - The company aims to alleviate financial pressure due to limited group funding and previous reliance on Neta Auto for product promotion, which did not meet sales expectations [4][5]. Technological Advancements - The skateboard chassis, known as CIIC (CATL Integrated Intelligent Chassis), integrates battery and electric drive systems, allowing for modular vehicle design [3][6]. - Recent collaborations with various automotive manufacturers, including BAIC and Jianghuai, are expected to yield new models between 2026 and 2027 [4][5]. Market Position and Strategy - CATL's entry into the skateboard chassis market is driven by the need to bundle sales with its existing battery business and to find new growth points amid declining battery business growth [5][10]. - The company's gross margin has decreased from 43.7% in 2016 to 24.4% in 2024, with market share dropping from 52.1% in 2021 to 43.4% in the first half of this year [5][10]. Challenges and Industry Dynamics - The skateboard chassis concept, while promising, faces challenges such as integration complexity and the need for standardized interfaces among different automakers [10][11]. - The market for skateboard chassis is competitive, with many automakers, including Tesla and BYD, developing their own platforms, which may limit the market for third-party suppliers like Times Intelligent [12]. Future Prospects - Times Intelligent is also exploring international markets, with potential announcements expected soon [8]. - The skateboard chassis model could reduce development costs and time significantly, making it attractive for new energy vehicles [9][10].

Core Viewpoint - CATL's subsidiary, Ningde Times (Shanghai) Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., has completed a 2 billion RMB financing round, with a pre-investment valuation of 9 billion RMB, and is expected to exceed 10 billion RMB post-investment, indicating a significant growth trajectory for the company [2][3]. Group 1: Financing and Ownership Structure - CATL currently holds 80.01% of the shares in Ningde Times Intelligent, while Ningbo Meishan Free Trade Port Zone Ningchuang Zhiyuan Venture Capital Partnership (Limited Partnership) holds 9.9% [3]. - This financing marks the first time Ningde Times Intelligent has opened equity to external capital, suggesting a strategic move to accelerate its chassis business [3]. Group 2: Business Development and Product Offerings - Established in July 2021 with a registered capital of 2.5 billion RMB, Ningde Times Intelligent focuses on key technologies such as electric vehicle chassis, three-electric integration, and intelligent control [3]. - The company plans to utilize the financing for project capacity construction and technology development for new scenarios like Robotaxi [3][9]. - The launch of the "Rock" chassis in December 2024 is expected to significantly enhance safety and reduce development cycles for new vehicle models [4]. Group 3: Market Position and Competitive Advantage - The "Rock" chassis can reduce the development cycle of a vehicle from 3 years to 12-18 months and is projected to lower the BOM cost by 5% [4]. - CATL's entry into the chassis market is closely tied to its core battery business, leveraging its CTC technology to enhance energy density and space utilization [6]. - The company aims to transition from a "single battery supplier" to a "comprehensive energy solution provider" to maintain its market position [7]. Group 4: Industry Challenges and Opportunities - The automotive industry faces challenges as automakers are also participants in chassis technology, which may limit the market space for chassis suppliers [7]. - There are existing tensions between automakers and third-party chassis suppliers regarding profit and supply chain security [8]. - The maturation of conditions for commercializing autonomous driving, particularly in Robotaxi scenarios, presents a potential breakthrough for the chassis market [9].

Core Insights - The article discusses a significant transformation in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, highlighted by the upcoming financing round for CATL's subsidiary, Times Intelligent, which focuses on skateboard chassis technology, achieving a post-investment valuation exceeding 10 billion [1][2] - The skateboard chassis promises unprecedented R&D efficiency, enhanced safety performance, and reduced manufacturing costs, potentially revolutionizing the automotive manufacturing paradigm [1][3] Investment and Financing - Times Intelligent is set to complete its first round of financing from external investors since its establishment in July 2021, with leading domestic investment institutions participating [2] - The entry of external market investors signifies recognition of Times Intelligent's technology, business model, and market potential, marking a transition from internal estimates to actual market valuation [2][3] Technological Innovation - The "Rock" integrated intelligent chassis represents the culmination of CATL's CTC technology, consolidating numerous core components into a single platform, thus decoupling vehicle design and manufacturing [3][4] - This innovative design reduces vehicle development time from 36 months to 12-18 months and can lower overall vehicle development costs by 60% to 70% [3][4] Safety and Performance - The skateboard chassis enhances safety, demonstrated by a crash test where vehicles maintained battery integrity at high speeds, absorbing up to 85% of collision energy, surpassing traditional chassis performance [4] - This shift in design philosophy prioritizes battery safety and energy management, redefining the traditional automotive manufacturing approach [4] Strategic Partnerships and Market Expansion - Times Intelligent is actively building an ecosystem around its skateboard chassis, collaborating with high-end electric brands and mainstream joint ventures to expand its market presence [5] - Recent partnerships include a strategic collaboration with T3 Mobility to explore operational scenarios for Robotaxi, indicating a comprehensive approach to market penetration [5] Market Outlook - The emergence of the skateboard chassis is seen as a potential catalyst for an "Android era" in the automotive industry, lowering entry barriers and fostering innovation among niche brands [6] - The global skateboard platform market is projected to grow from $15.53 billion in 2024 to $63.88 billion by 2031, with a CAGR of 22.7% [6] Challenges Ahead - Traditional automotive giants may view the standardization of skateboard chassis as a threat to their unique brand identities and competitive advantages, leading to potential conflicts [6][7] - The challenge lies in balancing standardization with the need for differentiation in consumer products, as companies must avoid falling into a cycle of homogenization [7] Conclusion - The recent financing for Times Intelligent not only provides capital for production and R&D but also signals market confidence in the future of the automotive industry [8] - The transformation initiated by the skateboard chassis technology marks the beginning of a significant industry revolution, with the financing being just the prologue to a larger narrative [8]

Core Viewpoint - CATL's skateboard chassis business is making significant progress, with a recent agreement signed with Changan Mazda to develop new energy vehicles based on this technology, marking it as the fifth automaker to adopt CATL's skateboard chassis solution [1] Group 1: Business Developments - CATL has previously announced similar collaborations with companies such as Avita, JAC, and BAIC New Energy, with BAIC New Energy planning to launch multiple new models based on the skateboard chassis by around 2026 [1] - The skateboard chassis integrates key components like drive, brake, steering, and battery, allowing for independent development of the vehicle body and chassis, which can accommodate various vehicle types [1] - CATL's chairman stated that the skateboard chassis will significantly reduce the development costs for new models, opening doors for new entrants in the electric vehicle industry [2] Group 2: Technological Innovations - The skateboard chassis is based on Cell To Chassis (CTC) technology, which directly installs battery cells onto the chassis, bypassing traditional assembly methods, thus enhancing efficiency and energy density [3][4] - CTC technology allows for the use of lower-cost lithium iron phosphate batteries while achieving similar range to higher-density batteries, thereby reducing overall costs [4] Group 3: Strategic Planning - CATL established a subsidiary, Times Intelligent, to focus on the skateboard chassis business, with a "531" plan aimed at product rollout within three years and annual support for 2-3 automakers starting from the fifth year [6] - The production base for skateboard chassis in Yichun, Jiangxi, is set to commence operations in 2024, with the capability to develop new models within 12-18 months [6] Group 4: Market Outlook - The market demand for skateboard chassis is expected to grow, with predictions that it could capture nearly double-digit market share within the next decade [8] - Despite current hesitance from automakers to fully embrace the skateboard chassis concept, increasing competition in the electric vehicle sector may lead to a shift in acceptance [7]

Core Viewpoint - CATL is actively expanding its collaboration in the smart driving sector, focusing on green intelligent travel and digital technology through partnerships with companies like Ant Group and Hello [1] Group 1: Strategic Collaborations - CATL has signed strategic cooperation agreements with Ant Group and Hello, emphasizing smart driving and related new energy travel services [1] - Prior to this, CATL partnered with Baidu to promote the popularization of autonomous driving technology and its application in industrial scenarios [1] Group 2: Technological Development - CATL views its entry into the chassis field as a logical extension of battery technology development, focusing on system integration to optimize performance and efficiency [2] - The CIIC integrated smart chassis features a separated design for the vehicle body and chassis, integrating core components like batteries and motors onto a single platform [2] Group 3: Testing and Data Utilization - To validate and optimize its chassis technology, CATL has collaborated with the AI Racing Foundation to support an autonomous racing event, using extreme track conditions to gather dynamic data [3] - The data collected is expected to enhance chassis control software and improve system responsiveness and stability, ultimately supporting advanced autonomous driving capabilities [3] Group 4: Industry Positioning - CATL aims to position itself as a key hardware platform supplier and data contributor in the smart driving era, establishing a unique position within the industry chain [4] - Collaborations with tech companies like Baidu and Ant Group are seen as efforts to explore upper-layer applications and service ecosystems based on this hardware platform [4]