NIO, Bosch deepen core EV tech alliance

Gasgoo Munich- On February 25, 2026, during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to China, NIO signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Bosch, underscoring deepening industrial ties between the two countries’ automotive sectors.

Image source: NIO

The partnership will extend across NIO’s three brands—NIO, ONVO and FIREFLY—and focus on core technologies underpinning intelligent electric vehicles. Areas of collaboration include chassis-by-wire systems and battery management, spanning braking control, steering and drive systems, as well as body electronics and perception modules. The agreement signals a move toward closer technical integration at a time when software-defined architectures and electrified platforms are reshaping vehicle development.

By formalizing the alliance, the two companies aim to accelerate joint innovation in key intelligent EV technologies while leveraging complementary strengths along the supply chain. The deal also reflects broader ambitions to elevate Sino-German cooperation in energy transition and advanced manufacturing, reinforcing industrial collaboration amid the global push for sustainable growth.

Earlier that day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and German Chancellor Merz jointly attended a symposium of the Sino-German Economic Advisory Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. More than 60 business leaders from both countries participated, including NIO founder, chairman and CEO William Bin Li, who was invited as a representative of China’s automotive industry.

During the discussions, Mr. Bin Li joined other Chinese and German executives in exchanging views on decarbonization, digital transformation, supply chain resilience and the investment climate. Conversations also turned to how automakers from both countries can pursue mutually beneficial growth as the global industry accelerates toward electrification and intelligent mobility, highlighting the strategic backdrop to the newly signed NIO-Bosch agreement.