RMB-settled battery pilot line exported

Shenzhen Zhongji Automation Co. Ltd., based in Bao’an District, dispatched its first overseas “turnkey” lithium battery pilot line on June 10. Valued at 300 million yuan and settled entirely in RMB, the transaction represents the first time a comprehensive lithium battery pilot line produced by a Shenzhen company has been exported as an integrated package using Chinese currency.

The line features a planned capacity of 100 megawatt-hours (MWh) and supports multiple battery technologies, including prismatic and blade batteries, for use in drones, energy storage systems, and power batteries, according to Wang Lin, deputy general manager for technology at Shenzhen Zhongji.

Shenzhen Zhongji Automation Co. Ltd. dispatches its first overseas “turnkey” lithium battery pilot line on June 10. Photo by Liu Anbang

The project proceeded at a remarkable pace, taking just six months to deliver the first shipment. Wang said that the true challenge lies not in equipment delivery, but in exporting an entire manufacturing process and production system. Unlike traditional equipment sales, this “turnkey” model allows the client to provide only the land, capital, and product specifications. Shenzhen Zhongji handles the rest, including plant layout, process design, equipment configuration, and the construction of auxiliary systems, effectively offering a “one-stop factory” solution.

Industry experts view the export as a strategic evolution for Bao’an’s manufacturing sector. He Weining, honorary vice president of the Shenzhen Battery Industry Association, noted that the project signals Shenzhen’s transition from a supplier of individual machines to a provider of complete production-line solutions.

He added that using RMB for settlement reduces exchange rate risks and transaction costs, signaling a shift for Shenzhen enterprises from “passively adapting” to international trade rules to “actively shaping” them. It reflects the growing international bargaining power of China’s high-tech manufacturing sector.

Bao’an District has become a critical hub for the industrial surge, with its lithium battery equipment cluster recently recognized as a national-level industrial cluster for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Bao’an is home to numerous national “little giant” enterprises that have achieved independent research and development for over 80% of the core components of their battery equipment, and are world leaders in key manufacturing technologies such as laser cutting, winding and stacking. To sustain this momentum, the Bao’an District Government has implemented supportive policies, including technical transformation subsidies and rent concessions, to ensure that leading lithium equipment manufacturers have the necessary resources and space to scale their global impact.