CATL partners with ZF in aftersales service

Chinese battery maker CATL has partnered with German auto parts supplier ZF to enhance its aftersales service for its growing number of users around the world.

Under an agreement inked on Friday, CATL will provide ZF with battery training know-how.

ZF said the know-how, coupled with its own high-voltage training, will enhance the competitiveness of its training programs and other aftersales services.

The two companies also agreed to cooperate on data connectivity, recycling and reuse.

"The partnership with ZF is an important step towards developing a global comprehensive value chain of batteries," said CATL President Zhou Jia.

He said with the support of ZF's worldwide network, CATL will further enhance its global aftermarket service and deliver its new energy products to the world.

CATL is one of the world's largest battery makers, with its customers ranging from Volkswagen and Toyota to BMW and Daimler.

ZF has more than 10,000 workshops in its global aftermarket. It is also rolling out products for electric vehicles.

These have made it to be "considered the preferred option in CATL's service network expansion", said ZF in a statement.

"Enabling creative collaboration between companies can jump-start business innovation," said Holger Klein, a ZF board member.

ZF celebrated its 40th anniversary in China earlier this month.

It is expecting sales in the Asia Pacific region, with China as the core, to account for 30 percent of its global total by 2030, up from around 20 percent now.

"China is becoming an epicenter of ZF global products and functionalities," said Klein.