U Power readies 1,000 battery-swap e-trucks for Thailand launch

U Power has completed comprehensive operational testing and full-stack integration of a battery-swapping heavy-duty truck prototype ahead of a planned 1,000-unit deployment in Thailand with logistics partner Whale Logistics. The prototype vehicles, jointly developed with SAIC Hongyan Automotive and UNEX EV, underwent three months of full-condition road testing, with all technical parameters meeting design specifications, positioning the project for mass production and first deliveries by May 2026.

The partnership with Whale Logistics, formalised in December 2025, marks Thailand’s first battery-swapping heavy-duty truck project. U Power’s Uotta battery-swapping system enables battery exchanges within minutes, allowing electric trucks to match the operational availability of conventional fuel-powered vehicles without requiring significant charging infrastructure investment.

The deployment targets high-frequency highway logistics operations, with the battery-swapping model designed to eliminate concerns around battery degradation and reduce the cost burden of grid expansion for fleet operators.

In a statement, Johnny Lee, Founder and Chief Executive of U Power, said: “Completing full-condition road testing of our pilot vehicles confirms the reliability and efficiency of the UOTTA battery-swapping model. Thailand is a strategic market in U Power’s global growth plan. By pioneering battery-swapping solutions for taxis and heavy-duty trucks, we are strengthening our leadership in Southeast Asia and driving low-carbon commercial transportation, while laying the foundation for expansion across the region.”

Source: U Power