Under the memorandum of understanding, Maersk will become CATL’s preferred logistics provider, covering ocean and air freight, intermodal transport, warehousing and project logistics. The two companies will also explore ways to electrify ports, warehouses and inland transport using CATL’s advanced battery systems.
CATL – officially known as Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited – supplies batteries to many of Europe’s leading vehicle manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and BMW. The company operates major production facilities in China and Europe, with plants in Germany and Hungary serving as key links in global battery supply chains.
By becoming CATL’s main global logistics partner, Maersk will handle battery transport across multiple modes, ensuring supply chain resilience and compliance for the movement of lithium-based products. The partnership is expected to strengthen CATL’s international distribution network while supporting Maersk’s efforts to decarbonise logistics operations.
Beyond transport, the agreement includes plans to electrify logistics infrastructure using CATL technology — covering energy management, battery recycling and power solutions for ports, terminals and warehouses. Such developments could play a growing role in reducing emissions from yard equipment, warehousing and local distribution fleets.
“Combining CATL’s battery technologies with our integrated logistics capabilities presents a powerful opportunity to accelerate the decarbonisation of global logistics,” said Morten Bo Christiansen, Maersk’s Senior Vice President and Global Head of Energy Transition.
Maersk aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its entire business by 2040, while CATL plans to reach carbon neutrality in its core operations by 2025 and across its supply chain by 2035.
For European logistics professionals, the partnership reflects the growing convergence of battery technology and freight logistics. It underlines how major players are beginning to electrify the transport ecosystem — from long-haul shipping to the inland logistics networks that connect Europe’s manufacturing and energy transition hubs.
