China’s automotive sector began 2026 with a strong wave of partnerships spanning automakers, technology providers and supply-chain players. January saw collaboration deepen across electrification, intelligent driving, software-defined vehicles and global expansion.
Automakers strengthen strategic ties
BYD signed a long-term strategic MoU with ExxonMobil, expanding cooperation beyond hybrid engine oils into joint R&D, customised products and new materials to support BYD’s global new-energy ambitions.
Chery Automobile reached a strategic agreement with eHi Car Services, delivering 5,000 vehicles in its largest single-batch fleet order to date. The partnership will expand into customised vehicles, intelligent mobility services and overseas markets.
Changan Automobile and Midea Group formed a comprehensive partnership covering EV components, intelligent manufacturing and the “human–vehicle–home” ecosystem, with a focus on software services and smart mobility.
BAIC BJEV and Pony.ai launched “Cooperation 2.0”, expanding their L4 Robotaxi collaboration into large-scale commercialisation, global deployment and ecosystem integration.
Supply chain and technology alliances expand
Geely Holding Group increased its strategic stake in ECARX with a $45.6 million investment, strengthening collaboration in smart cockpits, autonomous driving platforms and in-vehicle computing.
CATL and NIO signed a new five-year strategic agreement, deepening cooperation in battery technology, battery swapping standards and global ecosystem development.
Black Sesame Technologies partnered with Baidu Apollo Go to support autonomous driving solutions, contributing computing chip technology and joint ecosystem development.
ZELOS and Cainiao agreed to integrate unmanned vehicle operations, with Cainiao becoming a shareholder and ZELOS leading RoboVan commercialisation under a dual-brand strategy.
CATL Intelligence signed a strategic MoU with Indonesia’s Indonesia Battery Corporation to support local EV R&D and production using integrated smart chassis technology.
Finally, Schaeffler partnered with Neusoft REACH to jointly develop software-hardware integrated controllers for software-defined vehicles.
