Chinese battery manufacturer CATL and BMW Group have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to deepen cooperation on decarbonisation and battery data governance across the power battery supply chain.
The agreement was signed in Beijing on 25 February during the visit of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, alongside a senior German business delegation.
Under the MOU, the two companies will collaborate on pilot projects focused on cross-border data transfer within the framework of a Battery Passport scenario. The projects will explore trusted data exchange mechanisms, carbon accounting methodologies and innovative tools for calculating battery carbon footprints.
The initiative will make use of the standardised automotive data ecosystem Catena-X, with the aim of aligning technical standards, supporting coherent policy frameworks and promoting long-term industrial stability.
BMW and CATL, partners since 2012
CATL and BMW have maintained a strategic partnership since 2012, cooperating on battery production, joint research and development, and supply chain sustainability. The new agreement broadens the scope of the relationship beyond product-level collaboration to include institutional coordination on data governance and carbon transparency.
The companies said that by aligning approaches to carbon accounting and strengthening trusted data exchange, they intend to enhance transparency and reinforce resilience across the global automotive value chain.
The move comes as regulatory and market pressures increase on battery manufacturers and vehicle OEMs to provide verified lifecycle emissions data, particularly in light of emerging battery passport requirements in major markets.
Picture: BMW’s latest medium-sized electric SUV, the iX3 Credit: BMW
