Chery Automobile has established Anhui Xidian Energy Technology Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary with RMB 500 million registered capital, to oversee its battery manufacturing, sales, and energy storage services. This move operationalizes Chery's 'Rhino Battery' energy strategy announced two months ago. Xidian Energy will coordinate Chery's multi-track supply chain: in-house production (Deyi Energy), joint ventures (CATL), and external procurement.
Concurrently, Chery announced 'uncapped' investment in all-solid-state battery R&D, planning a dedicated team of over 1,200 members with a cumulative R&D budget exceeding RMB 10 billion within two years, emphasizing the strategic importance of mastering core battery technology for automotive OEMs.
This move by Chery highlights a growing trend among major automotive OEMs to secure critical battery supply chains through vertical integration. For B2B buyers in sectors such as commercial vehicles, industrial equipment, and energy storage, this signals potential shifts in battery availability, pricing power, and technology roadmaps. Suppliers that cannot control their battery value chain may face increased competition or supply constraints.
Major OEMs like Chery vertically integrating battery production signals a trend toward securing core power source supply chains. For specialized OEMs in UAVs, robotics, or industrial EVs, such vertical integration is often impractical. This creates a need for agile, specialized battery solution providers who can deliver customized packs in smaller volumes with fast turnaround. We fill this gap, offering expert battery selection, BMS design, and flexible manufacturing for niche applications. Our online tool (https://tool.liion-batt.com) supports rapid technical evaluation, allowing engineers to match project needs to available cell models efficiently.
