Two heavyweights of global logistics and battery technology are joining forces. Kuehne+Nagel has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) – the world’s top supplier of EV batteries for nine consecutive years running, and the top name in energy storage battery shipments for the past five years – to accelerate the shift toward cleaner, electrified transport. The collaboration kicks off with real-world projects as opposed to distant promises. In Europe, CATL’s own transport flows will start going electric. (All of CATL’s 20 core battery factories already operate carbon-neutral, and its goal is to offer a carbon-neutral battery supply chain by 2035.) In China, the two companies are piloting a battery-swapping system for heavy-duty trucks (powered by Qiji technology), launching later this year – a solution that could dramatically cut charging downtime for electric freight fleets.
However, the partnership goes further merely getting electric trucks on the road. It also covers battery recycling, after-sales support, and energy storage and charging infrastructure at logistics sites – building the backbone needed to support an electrified supply chain end to end. All of this feeds into a shared goal: cutting Scope 3 emissions across both companies’ value chains.
The timing is no accident. Electric truck battery demand jumped over 75% in 2024 alone, and gigafactories are multiplying worldwide to keep pace. By combining CATL’s battery expertise with Kuehne+Nagel’s logistics reach, the two companies are betting on electrification not as a future trend, but as the next chapter of freight already underway.
Akin Li, Executive President of CATL Overseas Business, commented: “As global leaders in our respective industries, CATL and Kuehne+Nagel share a commitment to accelerating the energy transition and achieving a net-zero emissions future. Our elevated partnership will not only contribute to both parties’ sustainability targets, but also help advance a greener future.”
Søren Schmidt, Executive Vice President Road Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel, added: “Battery-electric vehicles are essential to decarbonizing road freight. Accelerating the transition requires solutions that are both high-performing and operationally viable. By combining CATL’s battery expertise with our logistics capabilities, we can advance initiatives that help reduce our own emissions and those of our customers.”
