DOMESTIC carmaker Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. has reached an agreement to set up a battery joint venture with the country’s leading lithium battery producer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. (CATL).

The two firms said Friday that Zhejiang Jirun, an indirect 99 percent owned subsidiary of Geely Auto, and Shenzhen-listed CATL agreed that the joint venture would engage in the research and development, manufacturing and sales of battery cells, modules and packs.

The joint venture, with a registered capital of 1 billion yuan (US$145 million), will be 49 percent owned by Zhejiang Jirun and 51 percent by CATL.

“The joint venture will help ensure a stable supply of lithium batteries for Geely as it pushes forward its new energy vehicle strategy to transform itself into an industry leader,” Geely said.

An Conghui, president of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, the parent company of Geely Auto, said Geely would work with partners to establish a global industrial value chain to become a global leader in new energy vehicle and energy saving technologies and roll out new energy vehicle models to better meet customer needs.

CATL has partnerships with global carmakers including BMW, Volkswagen and Daimler. (Xinhua)