Schaeffler and CATL target European EV platforms
Front row, from left: Xiangbin Chen, President E-Mobility Schaeffler Greater China, and Oscar Luo, Executive President and Head of Global Business Development at CATL; back row, from left: Thomas Stierle, Member of the Executive Board E-Mobility at Schaeffler AG, and Bruce Li, Executive President Quality Systems at CATL.
CATL
Schaeffler and CATL are expanding their e-mobility cooperation to develop battery management systems and integrated PowerBox solutions for European carmakers. The agreement combines Schaeffler’s system integration with CATL’s battery scale and cell expertise.
Schaeffler and Chinese battery manufacturer CATL are deepening their cooperation in electric mobility. The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding covering the joint development of battery management systems, or BMS, as well as so-called X-in-1 integrated PowerBox solutions.
The cooperation builds on an already awarded customer project and is aimed particularly at the European market. For both companies, the agreement is therefore less about a single component than about a broader technology package for future electrified vehicle platforms.
Why battery management is central to the deal
Two technology areas are at the centre of the agreement. The partners want to develop battery management systems tailored to the requirements of European OEMs. They also plan to work on highly integrated PowerBox solutions that combine high-voltage electronics and electromechanical systems in a single unit.
According to the companies, Schaeffler will contribute its capabilities across the BMS value chain. These include hardware and software development, system integration, functional safety, testing, validation and series production in Europe. CATL will bring its expertise in cell technology, battery systems and the industrialisation of large production volumes.
That combination matters because battery systems, safety, regulation and market processes are becoming more closely connected. OEMs no longer need only individual battery components. They increasingly require integrated solutions that can be validated, produced and adapted to regional requirements at scale.
Thomas Stierle, Member of the Executive Board E-Mobility at Schaeffler AG, said the partnership is intended to strengthen the company’s electrification portfolio. “Through our partnership with CATL, we want to build a competitive product portfolio for the European market and beyond, thereby creating long-term value for global as well as Chinese carmakers expanding internationally,” he said.
How the partners address European supply chains
The companies link the expansion of their cooperation to rising demand for integrated e-mobility solutions in Europe. As electrification advances and regional supply chains are reconfigured, cooperation across the industrial value chain is becoming more important. The aim is to bring new technologies into series production faster.
For Schaeffler, the European production and validation element is particularly relevant. The supplier can position itself between battery technology, power electronics, software and vehicle integration. CATL, in turn, gains another route to link its battery expertise with European customer requirements and local industrial structures.
This fits a wider market trend. As OEMs push towards battery-electric vehicle production in Europe, suppliers must combine cost competitiveness with regional engineering, compliance and production capabilities. The pressure is especially high in areas where battery technology, high-voltage systems and industrial scaling meet.
CATL also points to the strategic importance of the European market. “We pursue the same strategic goals and share a common vision for the development of the industry,” said Bruce Li, Executive President Quality Systems at CATL. Together, the partners want to develop BMS and integrated PowerBox solutions for Europe and also examine the use of cloud computing and artificial intelligence in battery management.
What PowerBox integration could change
The PowerBox concept points to a broader integration trend in electric vehicles. Combining several electrical and electromechanical functions in one unit can reduce system complexity, packaging effort and interface work. For carmakers, this can support shorter development cycles and more compact vehicle architectures.
The same logic applies to BMS development. A battery management system is not only responsible for monitoring the battery. It also contributes to safety, performance, charging behaviour, diagnostics, thermal management and the overall lifetime of the high-voltage system. In that sense, BMS capability is becoming part of the wider intelligence layer of an electric vehicle.
By combining Schaeffler’s system and industrialisation expertise with CATL’s battery know-how, the partners are positioning themselves in a market where high-voltage power electronics and battery control functions are becoming increasingly interdependent.
With the memorandum of understanding, Schaeffler and CATL underline their intention to strengthen their position in the European battery-electric vehicle market. The cooperation also gives both companies a platform for further international business opportunities as Chinese and global carmakers continue to expand outside their home markets.
