Catena-X Automotive Network e.V., in partnership with the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) and VDA China, has launched what it describes as the world’s first trusted, cross-border automotive data ecosystem connecting Europe and China.
The initiative marks a significant step toward enabling secure and compliant data exchange across global automotive supply chains, as regulatory requirements tighten in both regions.
Operations are expected to begin in mid-November 2026, with companies across China’s automotive sector invited to participate and help shape the platform’s development.
To ensure local alignment, the ecosystem will be operated within China by Zhonglian, Catena-X’s second operating partner and its first outside Europe. Zhonglian will manage core market services and serve as the regulatory interface, while Catena-X, CAAM, and VDA China continue to guide strategy, standards, and governance.
Cofinity-X, Catena-X’s original operating partner, will provide technical licensing and support to ensure interoperability and scale.
The timing of the launch is closely tied to evolving regulatory pressures. From February 2027, the EU Battery Regulation will require mandatory battery passports for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, making verifiable supply chain and carbon footprint data essential for market access. At the same time, China enforces strict controls on cross-border transfer of industrial data, often requiring lengthy approval processes with uncertain outcomes.
Catena-X aims to address these challenges by enabling battery passport data to be generated once from real supply chain inputs and recognized under both European and Chinese regulatory frameworks. This approach has already been tested in pilot projects and is now being prepared for broader rollout.
A key principle of the ecosystem is data sovereignty. Participants retain full control over their data and define access permissions before any exchange, ensuring compliance without exposing sensitive or proprietary information.
The platform is designed to eliminate the need for companies to navigate complex cross-border compliance processes individually. Instead, it offers a shared, trusted infrastructure that supports seamless data exchange across markets and throughout the automotive value chain.
The launch builds on nearly four years of groundwork and investment by Catena-X in China.
This includes collaboration with the China Automotive Technology & Research Centre (CATARC) Lin-Gang, which oversees national data whitelists, and the establishment of a Digital Clearing House at the Suzhou International Data Port, operated by Sungent Digital and supported by CAICT.
Leadership Comment
Oliver Ganser, Chairman of the Board, Catena-X, said: “Global automotive supply chains are increasingly reliant on trusted data exchange. Without it, compliance becomes more complex, more costly, and more fragmented. By establishing a dedicated operating partner in China, we are putting the infrastructure in place to enable secure, sovereign data exchange at scale, allowing companies to meet regulatory requirements such as the EU Battery Regulation while protecting intellectual property.
“This is how the industry moves from fragmented data flows to a shared, operational standard that works globally. And crucially, this is an open, interoperable ecosystem – not a walled garden – so any qualifying, certified company can offer their solutions on the open marketplace. Working in partnership like this ensures we have the ability to meet regulatory pressures with confidence, and quickly develop new use-cases which will deliver even greater value because they are designed by the industry, for the industry.”
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