Catena-X links Europe and China

2026-07-27 · Publisher : Catena-X · Domain : Industry 4.0 & 5.0

Catena-X launches with CAAM and VDA China the first trusted automotive data ecosystem between Europe and China, notably to produce the battery passports required by the EU from February 2027.

### Background In late July 2026 (approximate date: article of 27 July), **Catena-X**, the European automotive data exchange ecosystem, announces what it presents as the first **trusted cross-border automotive data ecosystem** between Europe and China. The goal: enable sovereign data exchange compliant with both sets of regulations. ### Key facts - Partnership with the **China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM)** and **VDA China**; **Zhonglian** operates the ecosystem in China, as Catena-X's second operating partner and first outside Europe; interoperability enabled with support from Cofinity-X. - Operations scheduled to start in **mid-November 2026**, with Chinese automotive companies invited to take part. - Flagship use case: the **battery passport** required by the EU Battery Regulation from February 2027 for EV and plug-in hybrid battery packs, with supply chain traceability and verified carbon footprint. - Without trusted infrastructure, transferring "important data" out of China requires an application to the Cyberspace Administration of China, which can take up to five months. ### Why it matters For European carmakers and suppliers, much battery data comes from Chinese suppliers. Without compliant exchange there is no passport, and without a passport no access to the EU market. Data becomes a market access condition, just like the product. ### Takeaway Industry 4.0 also depends on regulatory data interoperability between economic blocs.

Tags : Données industrielles, Passeport numérique, Automobile, Souveraineté, Catena-X