On May 17, 2026, CATL, the world's largest electric vehicle battery manufacturer, signed a tripartite agreement with Xiamen City and AutoFlight. The deal establishes a new regional production base for power and energy storage batteries, integrating cell, module, and pack manufacturing. The partnership also expands cooperation on eVTOL aircraft batteries.
This collaboration aims to build a comprehensive ecosystem for urban air mobility (UAM), including defining operational scenarios, deploying electric aircraft fleets, and constructing necessary infrastructure. For B2B buyers in the aviation and energy sectors, this means CATL is transitioning from a pure supplier to a foundational partner in the low-altitude economy, directly addressing the ultra-high safety and energy density requirements of eVTOLs.
According to industry analysis, this move leverages CATL's manufacturing dominance to capture early advantage in electric aviation, a sector projected to grow significantly over the next decade. The agreement underscores a clear trend: major battery makers are now actively shaping application ecosystems rather than merely supplying components.
