U Power Limited, a specialist in modular EV battery-swapping systems, this week signed a memorandum of understanding with Beijing Foton Motor’s export arm to jointly launch battery-swapping solutions for heavy-duty commercial EVs, including trucks, buses, and vans in Southeast Asia, South America, Hong Kong SAR, and Macau SAR markets .
Under the agreement, U Power will integrate its UOTTA battery-swapping technology into Foton’s vehicles and support the development, testing, and launch of compatible swap stations. In return, Foton will provide detailed performance data—covering charge cycles, battery health, and capacity metrics—to enhance operational efficiency.
Johnny Lee, U Power’s CEO and chairman, emphasized the strategic importance of the collaboration: “This partnership marks another significant step forward in our strategy of expanding [our] OEM partner base,” and is expected to accelerate the rollout of a robust battery-swap ecosystem across these key regions.
Beijing Foton, a subsidiary of Foton Motor, exported 153,000 new energy vehicles in 2024, marking its 14th consecutive year as China’s top commercial vehicle exporter. The latest collaboration marks a key push to combine Foton’s commercial-vehicle pedigree with U Power’s innovative swap infrastructure.
The partnership arrives amid U Power’s global expansion: earlier this year, the company inaugurated its first smart, zero-carbon swap station in Hong Kong and secured service provider agreements in Macau and Singapore. It has also participated in taxi fleet rollouts in Portugal and Thailand using UOTTA-enabled vehicles.
Analysts see the Foton tie-up as a game-changer—linking heavy commercial vehicles with scalable grid-like swap-station infrastructure could speed EV adoption in transport fleets. Still, success hinges on aligning battery standards, regulatory frameworks, and open data-sharing policies across markets.
