CBT-COSCO Strategic Partnership: Empower China’s Auto Exports Globally

Official Signing of Strategic Cooperation Agreement and Launch of Key Program

On August 22, 2025, CBT (China Business & Trade Platform), a leading cross-border service platform in China’s automobile industry, and China Ocean Shipping Group Co., Ltd. (COSCO) officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement. The two parties will integrate resources in shipping logistics, digital trade, and supply chain finance to jointly build an “end-to-end” solution for China’s automobile exports.

Cao Wei, Chairman of CBT, and Zhu Qi, Co-founder of CBT, represented the platform’s founders at the signing ceremony. Together with representatives from COSCO, they jointly announced the launch of the “Global Automobile Logistics Empowerment Program“.

COSCO’s Logistics Support and CBT’s Digital Synergy for Efficiency Improvement

Relying on its global shipping network and multimodal transportation system, COSCO will provide the CBT platform with priority container space guarantees covering 127 countries and regions, customized sea-rail intermodal services, and a digital logistics tracking system. Meanwhile, the CBT platform will integrate its independentl y developed “AI Supply Chain Brain” with COSCO’s “Shipping Big Data Platform” to achieve full-link visualization from vehicle pickup at factories, overseas warehouse distribution to end-user delivery. It is expected that the logistics efficiency of China’s automobile exports will be improved by more than 30%.

COSCO’s Statement on the Cooperation’s Alignment with National Strategy

A COSCO official stated, “This cooperation is a crucial measure to respond to the nationahal ‘dual circulation’ strategy. Through in-depth collaboration with the CBT platform, we can not only provide more competitive logistics solutions for Chinese automobile brands but also jointly explore the construction of green channels for new energy vehicle exports, helping Made-in-China products move up the global value chain.”

Background of CBT Founders and the Platform’s Establishment Purpose

Notably, Zhu Qi and Cao Wei, the two founders of the CBT platform, both have a profound background in the automobile industry. They are also the founders of Chongqing Jinyu Import and Export Trade Co., Ltd. (referred to as “Jinyu Import and Export” for short). As a leading enterprise in China’s used car exports, Jinyu Import and Export’s business scope covers automobile sales and exports. It has established cooperation with more than 30 domestic automobile manufacturers and dealers, with its export network spanning over 50 countries and regions including Africa, Central Asia, and Russia. As members of the company’s core decision-making team, Chairman Cao Wei and Co-founder Zhu Qi jointly launched the CBT platform in 2024, a iming to address pain points in China’s automobile exports such as “fragmented supply chains, insufficient localized services, and low brand premium” through digital means.

Achievements of CBT’s Innovative Logistics Model

As a practical example of this cooperation, CBT’s “Central Asia Railway Train + Overseas Warehouse” model has achieved remarkable results. Through the “Chongqing – Horgos – Five Central Asian Countries” dedicated train launched in cooperation with COSCO, CBT has shortened the transportation cycle of new energy vehicle brands such as Changan and Seres compared with the traditional sea freight time. Relying on overseas warehouses established in multiple countries, it has realized localized services of “delivery upon arrival at the port”.

Future Three-Year Cooperation Plans and Carbon Footprint Tracking Service

Zhu Qi revealed at the signing ceremony, “In the next three years, we will jointly build the ‘China-Africa Automobile Logistics Corridor’ with COSCO, deploy 10 intelligent warehousing centers at hub ports such as Algiers in Algeria and Dubai Port, and jointly develop a ‘single-document system’ for multimodal transportation digital documents to further reduce the compliance costs of China’s automobile exports. By integrating shipping resources and digital technology, we are expected to reduce the logistics cost of China’s automobile exports to below 12%.” Zhu Qi also stated, “Next, the platform will jointly launch a ‘carbon footprint tracking’ service with COSCO to help automobile manufacturers meet the green trade barrier requirements of markets such as the European Union.”

Strategic Significance of CBT-COSCO Cooperation for China’s Automobile Exports

With the launch of the “Global Automobile Logistics Empowerment Program”, China’s automobile exports are shifting from single-product competition to an all-dimensional competition era of “product + service + ecology”. This strategic cooperation between CBT and COSCO not only sets a benchmark for cross-industry collaboration in the industry but also injects new impetus into the globalization journey of Made-in-China.