Seres Locks Aito Into Long-Term CATL Battery Deal, Chongqing Capacity Tops 20 GWh

Seres has moved to tie its Aito electric vehicle brand to CATL for the long haul, signing a long-term battery supply agreement with the Chinese battery giant. The deal is designed to keep Aito’s future models supplied with cells as the brand scales up production and pushes into overseas markets.

To support that demand, CATL is expanding its manufacturing footprint in Chongqing, taking annual capacity there past the 20 GWh mark. That is a substantial volume of battery production dedicated to backing the partnership, and it signals how seriously both companies are treating Aito’s growth trajectory.

The agreement is not limited to raw cell supply. Fast charging technology, battery-related services and the brand’s expansion into foreign markets all fall within the scope of the collaboration. That combination suggests Seres and CATL are working toward a more integrated relationship in which battery performance, charging speed and after-sales support are aligned rather than handled separately.

The timing reflects a broader trend among Chinese EV makers: securing capacity and technology from a leading battery supplier early, before demand potentially outpaces availability. CATL, in turn, continues to deepen its ties with individual automakers through agreements that bundle supply with technical cooperation.

For Aito, the deal underpins its plans to grow beyond China. The brand has already been visible in Europe, and a guaranteed battery pipeline — backed by dedicated capacity in Chongqing — gives it a firmer foundation for that international push. Neither company disclosed financial terms, and further details on the rollout of fast charging or the specific overseas markets involved were not provided.