Seres-backed Aiva Explores CATL Battery Swap Network Ahead of ME7 Launch

Aiva, an electric-vehicle startup backed by Seres (Seres Group), is exploring a partnership with CATL to integrate battery-swap technology into its upcoming models. The company's first production vehicle, the ME7 sedan, is scheduled to debut by the end of 2026.

The move signals Aiva's interest in adopting CATL's proven battery-swap ecosystem, which already serves NIO vehicles and is expanding to other brands. CATL has been actively courting automakers to adopt its swap-and-sell energy model, positioning battery swapping as a viable alternative to ultra-fast charging for mainstream EVs.

Aiva — whose name references AI-powered vehicle intelligence — is still in its early stages, with no vehicles currently on the road. The ME7 is expected to be a mid-size sedan, though specific details on range, battery capacity, and pricing have not been disclosed.

Battery swapping remains a niche but growing segment in China, where long refueling times for BEVs continue to be a consumer pain point. CATL's swap stations, deployed primarily through its partnership with NIO, number in the thousands and are concentrated in tier-1 and tier-2 cities.

If Aiva formalizes the arrangement with CATL, it would become one of several emerging brands considering swap-compatible designs rather than relying solely on high-capacity batteries and fast-charging infrastructure.