Catena-X has partnered with the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) and VDA China to launch the world's first trusted cross-border data network between Europe and China — a framework four years in the making that promises to streamline battery passport compliance and cut approval delays that once stretched to five months.
A Framework Years in the Making
The global automotive industry has long struggled with cross-border data compliance, facing lengthy approval processes for tasks like battery passport verification and supply chain carbon footprint tracking. Catena-X, an open automotive data ecosystem backed by leading global OEMs, suppliers and tech partners, set out to solve this by enabling trusted data exchange at scale across markets and through the value chain.
The new network was built by working with more than 20 organisations across industry, technology, research and government, and included more than 17 visits to China by Catena-X delegates during its development.
Expanding Operations to China Ahead of EU Deadlines
Catena-X is headquartered in Berlin, and will run its ecosystem from within China with the help of Zhonglian, an aviation technology firm that will operate core market services and act as the regulatory interface. Catena-X, CAAM and VDA China will continue leading on strategy, standards and governance, while Cofinity-X will act as technology licence holder and core service provider supporting interoperability.
Operations begin in November 2026, timed to the EU Battery Regulation, which from February 2027 will make battery passports mandatory — requiring verifiable, end-to-end supply chain and carbon footprint data for batteries used in electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.
"By connecting China and Europe through trusted, sovereign data exchange, we have created the world's first automotive data route between Europe and China, helping companies meet fast-approaching market-access requirements while retaining control of their data."— Hanno Focken, Managing Director of Activation, Governance and Operations, Catena-X
An Open, Interoperable Ecosystem
Oliver Ganser, Chairman of the Board at Catena-X, said global automotive supply chains are increasingly reliant on trusted data exchange, and that without it, compliance becomes more complex, costly and fragmented. By establishing a dedicated operating partner in China, Catena-X aims to put infrastructure in place for secure, sovereign data exchange at scale.
Crucially, the network is designed as an open, interoperable ecosystem rather than a walled garden — meaning any qualifying, certified company can offer its solutions on the open marketplace, with new use cases developed by the industry, for the industry.