On November 9, JD.com, GAC Group and CATL jointly launched the AION UT Super, a battery-swap-enabled compact EV sold exclusively on JD's platform. The battery-rental version is priced at 49,900 yuan with a monthly battery fee of 399 yuan, while the outright-purchase version is 89,900 yuan, both well below prior market expectations.
The collaboration divides roles clearly: JD handles online sales, GAC Aion handles production, test drives and delivery, and CATL focuses on battery rental and swap services. Industry observers say the tie-up marks a shift from manufacturing-driven to traffic- and data-driven auto retail, reshaping the traditional dealership model by compressing channel layers and lowering distribution costs.
