Shanghai (ZXZC)- HOZON Auto, the company behind the EV brand NETA, and the power battery giant CATL forged a strategic partnership on March 2 to step up the collaboration in NEV battery field.

Under the agreement, CATL will provide HOZON Auto with power battery solutions, cell-to-pack battery technology and the technology enabling an ultra-long battery lifespan. All these technical fruits will be utilized in the startup's five models based on two EV platforms, according to a post on HOZON Auto's WeChat account.

The two platforms, dubbed “HPC” and “HPA”, are set to be established by the end of 2020, the EV maker said. The five models refer to the NETA N01, the NETA U, the Eureka 02, the V and the EPX2 (code name), of which the former two’s mass-produced versions have been launched. 

Besides, the newly-agreed collaboration will make two parties join hands to offer users greater driving experience by leveraging their merits in NEV R&D, manufacturing and relevant services.

During the signing ceremony, HOZON Auto and CATL had a discussion about such popular topics as the development trend of NEV industry, automobile intelligence, resource sharing and sustainable growth.

HOZON revealed its cooperation with the Ningde-based battery titan can date back to the days when it endeavored to launch the first model “NETA N01”. Now, the cemented collaboration will serve the second one “NETA U”, which is scheduled to be put onto the market in late March.

Unveiled at the Auto Guangzhou 2019, the production model of the “U” is priced between RMB150,000 and RMB210,000 in presale. According to the startup, the new all-electric model boasts a NEDC-rated range of up to 660km, and the four-wheel-drive version can sprint from zero to 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds (photo source: HOZON Auto).