U Power readies battery-swapping trucks for Thailand and targets Q2 Hong Kong taxi launch

U Power Limited has finalised production of the initial batch of battery-swapping heavy-duty trucks for a 1,000-unit order in Thailand, marking a significant step in its international expansion. The Thailand initiative, operating under the UNEX brand, is a collaboration with SUSCO and Whale Logistics Group, and represents the first large-scale commercial deployment of battery swapping for commercial vehicles outside mainland China. This follows the company’s earlier launch of a taxi battery-swapping service in Phuket in 2025, leveraging the same local partnerships. In Hong Kong, U Power is preparing to launch a battery-swapping service for taxis, aiming for commercial operations in the second quarter of 2026. The project has been in development since 2024, with the company completing the city’s first commercially capable demonstration swapping station in mid-2025. After extensive road testing and compatibility validation, the vehicles have now met all Transport Department certification requirements, allowing them to enter regular service. Construction of further swapping stations is ongoing to support the upcoming launch. U Power emphasises the economic advantages of its battery-swapping model in Hong Kong’s dense urban environment. By eliminating the need for individual charging infrastructure and grid upgrades, fleet operators can reduce capital expenditure and avoid risks associated with battery degradation. The integration of a battery banking system and AI-driven energy management also helps maintain competitive operating costs, making the solution particularly well suited to the city’s efficiency-driven taxi sector. Li Jia, Founder and CEO of U Power, highlighted the company’s broader vision of creating an ecosystem for commercial vehicle electrification through standardised battery-swapping infrastructure and intelligent energy management. Since its public listing in 2023, U Power has been pioneering this technology with its UOTTA model, first introduced in 2020. The company’s progress in Thailand and Hong Kong underscores its ambition to expand battery-swapping beyond China and accelerate the electrification of commercial transport globally.