Views: 0 Author: Mrinan Publish Time: 2026-08-25 Origin: Site
On August 24, 2026, Qingdao United New Energy and SINOMACH Shandong KAMA Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd. signed a procurement agreement for 1,000 battery-swapping commercial vehicles.
The order covers three major commercial vehicle categories: electric light trucks, electric mini trucks and mid-size electric vans. The first batch of 100 vehicles is scheduled to be delivered by September 30, 2026, while the remaining vehicles will be delivered in stages according to market demand and project implementation progress.
The agreement represents an important milestone in KAMA’s development of battery-swapping electric commercial vehicles and demonstrates the growing demand for efficient, flexible and cost-effective vehicle electrification solutions in the urban logistics sector.
As a Qingdao-based enterprise specializing in the complete battery-swapping value chain for commercial vehicles, Qingdao United New Energy has developed its own battery-swapping technology and fleet operating system.
Its integrated solution combines four core elements:
Battery-swapping commercial vehicles
Standardized battery-swapping stations
Battery asset management
Cloud-based fleet and energy management
Through cooperation with local state-owned enterprises and logistics operators, the company plans to apply this integrated “vehicle-station-battery-cloud platform” model to green urban distribution projects in different regions.
Compared with conventional plug-in charging, battery swapping can significantly reduce vehicle downtime. A battery can be replaced in approximately five minutes, allowing commercial vehicles to return quickly to daily transport operations.
This is particularly valuable for high-frequency applications such as express delivery, cold-chain transportation, fresh food distribution, agricultural product logistics and city freight services.
The signing of the 1,000-unit procurement agreement is the result of more than two years of technical cooperation, product adaptation and operational testing between KAMA and Qingdao United New Energy.
KAMA was among the first vehicle manufacturers to support United New Energy’s battery-swapping commercial vehicle program. Based on the operating requirements of high-frequency urban logistics fleets, the two companies jointly completed the adaptation and development of three battery-swapping vehicle platforms:
Battery-swapping electric light truck
Battery-swapping electric mini truck
Battery-swapping mid-size electric van
Throughout the development process, both parties worked on chassis compatibility, battery layout, vehicle weight control, cargo capacity, operational efficiency and maintenance convenience.
The resulting vehicles combine KAMA’s mature commercial vehicle manufacturing capabilities with United New Energy’s battery-swapping system and fleet operating experience.
Battery cost is one of the largest components of an electric commercial vehicle’s purchase price. Under a battery separation or battery leasing model, fleet customers can purchase the vehicle without bearing the full upfront cost of the battery.
Depending on the commercial plan and battery service model, this can substantially reduce the initial vehicle acquisition cost and make electric commercial vehicles more accessible to individual drivers, small logistics companies and large fleet operators.
The jointly developed battery-swapping models offer several practical advantages:
Lower initial vehicle acquisition cost under a battery leasing model
Lightweight vehicle design
Competitive payload capacity
Approximately five-minute battery replacement
Reduced charging and vehicle waiting time
Improved daily vehicle utilization
Flexible battery asset management
Convenient after-sales and maintenance support
For commercial operators, the real value of electrification is not limited to lower energy consumption. Vehicle availability, payload, operating hours, maintenance response and total cost of ownership are equally important.
The battery-swapping solution developed by KAMA and United New Energy is designed around these practical operating requirements.
As an established Chinese light commercial vehicle manufacturer, KAMA has complete vehicle production lines and extensive experience in the development and manufacturing of light trucks, mini trucks, vans and special-purpose commercial vehicles.
KAMA’s production capabilities, short delivery cycle, efficient business processes and responsive after-sales system provide strong support for large-scale fleet projects.
KAMA vehicles are designed to offer a competitive balance between purchase price, payload capacity, reliability and operating cost. These advantages make them suitable for logistics companies seeking to improve transport efficiency while controlling fleet investment and operating expenses.
KAMA is also the first vehicle manufacturer to cooperate with Qingdao United New Energy on the volume production of battery-swapping logistics vehicles.
The new 1,000-unit agreement will further strengthen cooperation between the two companies and support the transition from product development and pilot operation to large-scale commercial deployment.
Based on the 1,000-unit procurement agreement, Qingdao United New Energy plans to accelerate the construction of its local battery-swapping ecosystem in 2026.
The project includes:
Construction of 100 standardized battery-swapping stations in Qingdao
Sale or leasing of 600 battery-swapping commercial vehicles
Establishment of a localized battery bank
Development of an integrated vehicle, station, battery and cloud management system
This network will provide infrastructure support for electric logistics fleets while creating a practical demonstration model for battery-swapping commercial vehicles.
Through standardized vehicle platforms, battery specifications, station construction and digital management, the project aims to establish a green logistics model that can later be replicated in other cities and regions.
It will also contribute to Qingdao’s low-carbon development goals and support the transformation of the regional logistics industry toward cleaner and more efficient transportation.
In addition to the Chinese market, KAMA and United New Energy are also evaluating opportunities in overseas markets.
KAMA has developed right-hand-drive electric light trucks, electric mini trucks and electric vans suitable for markets where vehicles drive on the left side of the road. These product platforms offer a foundation for future battery-swapping projects in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and other right-hand-drive markets.
For overseas distributors, energy companies and fleet operators, a battery-swapping project requires more than vehicles alone. It also involves local route analysis, energy supply, station planning, battery ownership, fleet scale, operating frequency and after-sales support.
The cooperation between KAMA and United New Energy brings together vehicle manufacturing, battery-swapping technology, station deployment and digital fleet management. This creates the potential to provide international customers with a more complete commercial EV solution instead of a standalone vehicle product.
The 1,000-unit agreement marks a new stage in the strategic cooperation between KAMA and Qingdao United New Energy.
By combining mature commercial vehicle platforms with efficient battery-swapping technology, the two companies aim to reduce the barriers to commercial vehicle electrification and provide logistics operators with more practical fleet solutions.
The first 100 vehicles will be delivered before September 30, 2026. Subsequent batches will be produced and delivered according to market demand and the rollout of supporting battery-swapping infrastructure.
KAMA welcomes cooperation with commercial vehicle distributors, logistics companies, fleet operators, battery service providers and energy infrastructure investors worldwide.
For information about KAMA battery-swapping electric trucks, electric mini trucks, electric vans, right-hand-drive models or overseas fleet projects, please contact the KAMA international sales team.
