News Summary
NIO and Geely Holding Group announced a strategic partnership on 28 September covering electric-vehicle charging and battery-swapping technology.
The two companies plan to share technology, develop common battery-swapping standards and connect parts of their charging infrastructure. Geely will also acquire a 30% stake in NIO Power, subject to regulatory clearance and other closing conditions.
Although the agreement principally concerns operations in China, it is relevant to the UAE because NIO already operates battery-swapping technology at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
What Did NIO and Geely Announce?
Geely will invest its complete ownership of commercial battery-swapping company Yiyi Power and RMB640 million in cash into NIO Power.
Once the transaction is completed, Geely is expected to own 30% of NIO Power. The agreement values NIO’s charging and battery-swapping business at approximately RMB16 billion.
NIO will separately acquire a 10% interest in Haohan Energy, Geely’s smart-charging subsidiary. The companies also intend to connect their charging infrastructure and improve network coverage and operational efficiency.
| Agreement detail | Announced plan |
| Geely’s NIO Power stake | 30% after completion |
| NIO’s Haohan Energy stake | 10% |
| NIO swap-station target | 10,000 stations by 2030 |
| Geely charging target | More than 22,000 stations by the end of 2027 |
| Joint development | Common swapping technology, standards and compatible vehicles |
What Is EV Battery Swapping?
EV battery swapping allows a compatible electric vehicle’s depleted traction battery to be removed and replaced with a charged battery at an automated station.
Instead of waiting for the same battery to recharge, the vehicle enters a swap station, where machinery removes the existing pack and installs another one.
NIO says its system can complete the process in as little as three minutes. The driver can initiate the service through the vehicle’s display or NIO mobile application and remain inside while the automated process takes place.
Battery swapping should not be confused with replacing a failed conventional car battery. It concerns the large high-voltage traction battery that powers an electric vehicle.
Why Are Common Battery-Swapping Standards Important?
A battery-swapping station cannot automatically work with every electric vehicle. The battery’s physical dimensions, mounting system, electrical connections, cooling design, software and safety controls must all be compatible.
A lack of common standards has therefore been one of the biggest obstacles to wider adoption.
NIO and Geely plan to develop shared technology and standards for future consumer vehicles. Geely is expected to develop compatible battery-swappable models, while NIO Power would provide swapping services for them.
If more manufacturers used compatible designs, swap stations could serve more vehicles. That could mean more use of the stations, and make it easier to run the costly infrastructure on a commercial basis.
However, the agreement does not make current Geely and NIO batteries immediately interchangeable. Compatible models and final technical arrangements still need to be developed.
Is EV Battery Swapping Available in the UAE?
Yes. NIO’s official UAE support platform currently lists a Power Swap Station at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
The station opened in February 2025 as NIO’s first battery-swapping facility in the Middle East and North Africa. It uses Power Swap Station 3.0 technology, can hold up to 21 batteries and is designed to perform as many as 408 swaps per day.
A battery swap also includes automated checks covering the battery, electric motor and vehicle-control systems.
The NIO–Geely announcement does not confirm:
- New swap-station locations in the UAE
- A Dubai battery-swap launch date
- Compatibility with Geely vehicles sold in the UAE
- UAE pricing under the new partnership
- Access for electric vehicles made by other brands
UAE motorists should therefore treat the agreement as an international industry development rather than confirmation of an immediate local network expansion.
Why Does the Partnership Matter to UAE Drivers?
The UAE is already a practical market for battery swapping because NIO sells electric vehicles locally and operates a functioning station in Abu Dhabi.
For drivers, a larger future network could provide an alternative to waiting at a public charger, particularly during long journeys between emirates. Rapid energy replacement may also be useful for taxis, ride-hailing vehicles and commercial fleets that cannot remain parked for lengthy charging sessions.
The technology could offer other potential benefits:
- Batteries can be inspected during each swap
- Charging can be managed centrally
- Degraded batteries can be removed from circulation
- Drivers may gain access to different battery capacities
- Battery upgrades could become easier for compatible vehicles
However, these advantages depend on having enough conveniently located stations. A single station cannot provide the same geographic coverage as an extensive public-charging network.
Will Battery Swapping Replace EV Charging?
Battery swapping is more likely to complement conventional charging than replace it.
Home chargers are handy for drivers who can leave their vehicles charging while they sleep. Public fast chargers can serve vehicles from different manufacturers, while swap stations require compatible battery architecture.
Future EV infrastructure may therefore include:
- Home and workplace charging
- Destination chargers
- Highway fast-charging stations
- Ultra-fast charging hubs
- Battery-swapping stations for compatible vehicles
The most suitable method will depend on the vehicle, journey, location, available time and charging access.
What Should Motorists Know About EV and 12-Volt Batteries?
An electric vehicle normally contains both a high-voltage traction battery and a smaller low-voltage auxiliary battery.
Battery swapping replaces the high-voltage traction pack. It does not replace the conventional auxiliary battery that powers control modules, locks, lighting and other supporting systems.
An EV may still become unresponsive because of a weak auxiliary battery even when its main traction battery contains energy. UAE drivers seeking roadside battery assistance should therefore identify which battery system is causing the problem before arranging service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an NIO battery swap take?
NIO says a compatible vehicle can receive a charged battery in as little as three minutes once it is ready for the automated swap process.
Can every electric vehicle use a battery-swap station?
No. The vehicle, battery pack, software and station must use compatible designs and technical standards.
Where is the NIO battery-swap station in the UAE?
NIO’s official UAE support page lists a Power Swap Station at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Can Geely vehicles now use NIO’s UAE station?
No UAE compatibility has been announced. The companies plan to develop compatible future models and common standards, but motorists should not assume that existing Geely vehicles can use NIO stations.
What Happens Next?
The transactions remain subject to regulatory clearances and closing conditions. NIO and Geely must also finalise the technical standards, compatible models and operating arrangements covered by the partnership.
The development to watch in the UAE will be whether NIO expands beyond its Abu Dhabi location and whether future Geely vehicles introduced locally support the shared swapping system.