CATL Unveils “Bedrock” EV Chassis, Emphasizing Safety and Efficiency

China’s CATL (300750.SZ), the world’s leading electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer, introduced its new “panshi” EV chassis on Tuesday, highlighting safety as its primary feature. The chassis can reportedly endure a 120-kph (75-mph) frontal collision without catching fire or exploding, setting a new safety benchmark in the EV industry.

The Bedrock platform integrates a battery with a range of approximately 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) per charge. It also shortens the vehicle production timeline to 12-18 months, compared to the traditional 36-month period, CATL stated.

CATL targets premium automakers with its Bedrock chassis, offering a solution to speed up EV development while lowering costs. “This is a groundbreaking approach, as no other new energy vehicle has previously attempted a 120km/h frontal pole impact test,” said Ni Jun, CATL’s chief manufacturing officer. Notably, the standard frontal impact speed in China’s New Car Assessment Program is 56 km/h.

Avatr, a Chinese EV brand co-owned by CATL, Changan Auto, and Huawei, will be the first to utilize this chassis. While Avatr’s president, Chen Zhao, did not disclose a specific launch date, the Bedrock chassis is set to play a key role in upcoming models.

The EV platform, also known as a “skateboard chassis,” integrates electric motors, batteries, control systems, and suspensions into a single flexible platform. Other companies, such as Xpeng (9868.HK) and Shanghai-based Launch Design, are also exploring similar technologies.

The Bedrock chassis supports CATL Chairman Robin Zeng’s vision of diversifying the company’s offerings. Besides EV platforms, CATL is advancing micro power grids and battery-swapping services. With a global EV battery market share of 37%, according to SNE Research, CATL is poised for further growth.

Zeng has indicated that the panshi platform could reduce EV development costs from billions to $10 million, enabling smaller EV firms to become profitable with sales of just 10,000 units annually. This innovation could attract new entrants in regions lacking established automakers. CATL has reportedly demonstrated the Bedrock chassis to Porsche and investors in the UAE, who are considering its potential for luxury and local EV brands.

Since 2020, CATL has been integrating batteries directly into EV chassis, forming collaborations with automakers such as Vinfast, BAIC, and Neta. These partnerships have helped develop EV models using CATL’s advanced platform over the past two years.