Source: JD.com

On October 14, 2025, JD.com (NASDAQ:JD), often regarded as China’s own Amazon, announced a three-way collaboration with GAC Group (HKG:2238) and CATL (SHE:300750) to launch a new electric vehicle during the company’s annual 11.11 shopping festival.

The model, dubbed the “National Good Car,” will be unveiled in late October and sold exclusively through the JD.com platform, with early reservations already open via the JD app. The represents JD.com’s first direct entry into vehicle sales.

While JD currently sells automotive accessories and operates nearly 3,000 JD Auto Service centers and over 40,000 partner garages, this project extends its business upstream into full vehicle retail. JD has also registered multiple “JD Auto” trademarks, evidencing the company’s automotive ambitions.

Under the partnership, JD.com leads in consumer insight and retail infrastructure, GAC handles vehicle production, and CATL—through its subsidiary Era Electric Service Technology Co., Ltd.—provides the “Choco” battery-swapping system.

Source: CATL

CATL’s Choco-Swap was launched in late 2024 with nearly 100 partners to standardize battery swapping. The initiative introduced #20 and #25 modular batteries, offering up to 600 km range and aiming for 30,000 swap stations nationwide by 2030. enables rapid battery replacement and reduces dependency on fast charging networks.

JD’s app lists three pricing tiers for the upcoming model: 50,000–100,000 yuan, 150,000–200,000 yuan, and 250,000–300,000 yuan (c. $7,000–14,000, $20,700–27,600, $35,100–42,200).

Report from news outlet Yicai suggests it may be a battery-swappable GAC’s Aion UT compact SUV, which offers 330 km (205 mi) and 420 km (261 mi) CLTC range options, priced from 69,800 yuan ($9,800).

The EV will feature customizable configurations and bundled packages, allowing buyers to select wrap designs, interior features, and maintenance options within a “one-stop” purchase system.

JD aims to replicate the convenience of mobile phone shopping for car ownership and the effort aligns with JD.com’s strategy to diversify beyond retail as growth slows in its core business.

With 1.13 trillion yuan ($159 billion) in 2024 revenue and 200 million active monthly users, JD seeks to leverage its data ecosystem to tap into China’s rapidly growing EV market.

Analysts note that success will depend on how JD balances digital convenience with physical service delivery.

If effective, the “National Good Car” could mark a turning point for online-first automotive sales in China, merging e-commerce scale with mobility innovation.

Conversion rate: 1 USD = 7.12 CNY as of October 15, 2025