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 CATL facility inArnstadt, Germany, one of thirteen facilities around the world. | |
Native name | 宁德时代新能源科技股份有限公司 |
|---|---|
| SZSE:300750 | |
| Industry | Electric batteries |
| Founded | 2011; 14 years ago (2011) |
| Founder | Robin Zeng |
| Headquarters | Ningde, Fujian ,China |
Key people |
|
| Revenue |  US$ 56.6 billion (2023)[1] |
| US$ 6.2 billion (2023)[1] | |
| Total assets | US$ 101.0 billion (2023)[1] |
Number of employees | 116,055 (2023)[2] |
| Website | www |
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) is a Chinese battery manufacturer and technology company founded in 2011 that specializes in the manufacturing oflithium-ion batteries forelectric vehicles andenergy storage systems, as well asbattery management systems (BMS).[3] CATL is the biggestEV and energy storage battery manufacturer in the world, with a global market share of around 37% and 40% respectively in 2023.[4][5][6] It is headquartered inNingde,Fujian province.
CATL was founded in Ningde, which is reflected in its Chinese name ('Ningde era'). The company started as aspin-off ofAmperex Technology Limited (ATL), a previous business founded byRobin Zeng in 1999. ATL initially manufactured lithium-polymer batteries based on licensed technology but later developed more reliable battery designs themselves.[citation needed] In 2005, ATL was acquired by Japan'sTDK company, but Zeng continued as a manager for ATL. In 2011,[7] A group of Chinese investors, led by Zeng and vice-chairmanHuang Shilin, spun off the EV battery operations of ATL into the new company CATL after acquiring an 85% stake. Former parent TDK retained its 15% stake in CATL until 2015.[8][9] Zeng has applied management styles of TDK andHuawei to his company.[9]
Amid the rise of electric vehicles, CATL gradually became one of the leading battery providers in the world due to its early investments in EV battery technologies and government subsidization of the battery industry. In 2011, China required foreign automakers to transfer crucial technology to domestic companies in order to receive subsidies for electric vehicles. In 2012, CATL established cooperation with BMW Brilliance, its first main customer.[10][8][11] China's dominant position in the battery manufacturing supply chain, including the control overrare-earth materials, provided an ideal foundation for Chinese companies like CATL to decouple from the monopoly of Western technology. It started to provide components to the supply chains of European and American vehicle manufacturers amidst competition fromPanasonic andL.G. Chemical.[12]
In 2016, CATL was the world's third largest provider ofEV,HEV andPHEV batteries, behindPanasonic (Sanyo) andBYD.[13] In 2017, CATL's sales of power battery system reached 11.84GWh, taking the lead worldwide for the first time.[14]
In January 2017, CATL announced a strategic partnership withValmet Automotive, focusing on project management, engineering and battery pack supply. CATL acquired a 22% stake in Valmet Automotive.[15][16]
In June 2018, CATL went public on theShenzhen Stock Exchange.[17]
BMW announced in 2018 that it would buy €4 billion worth of batteries from CATL for use in the electricMini andiNext vehicles.[18] In the same year, CATL announced that it would establish a new battery factory inArnstadt, Thuringia, Germany.[18]
In June 2020,Zeng Yuqun announced that the company had achieved a battery for electric vehicles (EVs) rated as good for 1 million miles (or 1.6 million kilometers).[19][20]
In 2021 the company unveiled asodium-ion battery for the automotive market.[21] Abattery recycling facility is planned to recover some of the materials.[22] CATL continued to invest in cobalt batteries as well, and acquired a near 25% stake in theDemocratic Republic of Congo's Kisanfu cobalt mine, one of the world's largest sources of cobalt.[23][8]
In the first half, CATL ranked first in the world with a market share of 34 percent, according to SNE research.[24] CATL announced plans to establish a battery factory inDebrecen, Hungary.[25] Their Yibin manufacturing plant was certified as the world's first zero-carbon battery factory.[26]
In July 2022,Ford announced buying batteries from CATL for use in theFord Mustang Mach-E andFord F-150 Lightning models,[27] which subsequently raised concerns with theUnited States House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party.[28] In October, CATL expanded its deal withVinFast to provide a skateboard chassis and "enhance global footprint".[29]
On 12 August 2022, CATL announced its second European battery plant in Hungary.[30][31]
In 2023, CATL received the equivalent of US$790 million in statesubsidies.[32] The same year, CATL introduced its M3P battery, offering a 15% increase in energy density, reaching 210 Wh/kg. The battery replaces the iron in the lithium iron phosphate battery with a combination of magnesium, zinc, and aluminum.[33]
Later that year, the company announced its Shenxing LFP battery.[34] The cathode of Shenxing LFP is fully nano-crystallized, which accelerates ion movement and the response to charging signals. The anode's second-generation fast ion ring technology increases intercalation channels and shortens intercalation distance. Its superconducting electrolyte formula reduces viscosity and improves conductivity. A new separator film reduces resistance. At room temperature, Shenxing can charge from 0 to 80% in 10 minutes and in just 30 minutes at -10 °C, maintains 0-100 kph performance at low temperatures. Safety is enhanced by using a safe coating for the electrolyte and the separator. A real-time fault testing system allows safe and fast refueling.[34] Ford announced a 2,500 worker battery plant inMarshall, Michigan using CATL technology. The facility would be a Ford subsidiary. Making the batteries domestically would enable Ford customers to access federal subsidies. The project was paused after lawmakers questioned the tax subsidies.[35][36]
In November 2023, CATL andStellantis announced that they are considering the possibility of a joint investment in the form of a joint venture with equivalent contributions.[37][38]
On 7 December 2023, CATL andHong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a CATL research center at the HKSTP with investment of overHKD 1.2 billion.[39]
In 2023, theWorld Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)’s Annual PCT Review ranked CATL's number of patent applications published under thePCT System as 8th in the world, with 1,799patent applications being published during 2023.[40]
In April 2024, CATL announced Tener, a large scale stationary energy storage system. It is claimed to feature all-round safety, zero degradation over five-years and 6.25 MWh capacity per unit. It incorporates biomimetic SEI (solid electrolyte interphase) and self-assembled electrolyte technologies.[41]
In August 2024, American legislatorsMarco Rubio andJohn Moolenaar asked Defense SecretaryLloyd Austin to add CATL to a list of companies prohibited from receiving U.S. military contracts.[42]
As of September 2024, CATL is the top recipient of Chinese corporate subsidies, a position it has maintained since 2023.[43][44]
In December 2024, CATL announced to its suppliers that it is willing to provide them with financial support to speed up the technology innovation in battery materials and equipment.[45] On 12 December 2024, it was reported that CATL will collaborate with Stellantis in ajoint-venture to build a large-scalelithium iron phosphate battery plant inZaragoza, an investment worth €4.1 billion. This 50-50 partnership, is anticipated to commence battery production in 2026 and will have a capacity reaching 50 GWh.[46]
On 7 January 2025, theUS Department of Defense added CATL andTencent to its list of "Chinese military companies".[47]
On 11 February 2025, CATL filed for a secondary listing on theHong Kong Stock Exchange, aiming to raise over $5 billion to fund international expansion plans including projects in Hungary, Spain, and Indonesia.[48][49]
CATL operates thirteen battery manufacturing plants worldwide, namely in:[50]
Due to its main competitorBYD Company prioritizing battery supply to its own vehicles, CATL was able to capture partnerships with foreign automakers.[9] CATL's battery technology is currently used by electric vehicle manufacturers in the overseas market, and CATL collaborates with companies includingBMW,[51]Daimler AG,Hyundai,[52]Honda,[53]Li Auto, NIO,PSA,[54]Tesla,Toyota,Volkswagen,Volvo andXPeng.[20]
In China, its clients includeBAIC Motor,Geely,GAC Group,Yutong Bus,Zhongtong Bus,Xiamen King Long,SAIC Motor andFoton Motor.[55][56] CATL also partners withValmet Automotive,[15][16]BMW,[18]Ford,[27][28][35][36]VinFast,[29] andHong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.[39]
In August 2022, CATL and truck makerFAW Jiefang established a joint venture to develop battery technology (urban battery replacement station networks).[57]
According to former Tesla battery supply chain manager Vivas Kumar in 2019, CATL "are seen as the leaders oflithium iron phosphate battery (LFP battery) technology". The company employs the cell-to-pack method to reduce the inactive weight of its batteries. It increases volumeutilization rate by 15% to 20%, doubles theproduction efficiency and reduces the number of parts for a battery pack by 40%, while theenergy density of a battery pack jumps from 140 to 150 Wh/Kg to 200 Wh/Kg.[58]
According to Kumar, unlike competitors such asLG Energy Solution orSK Innovation, CATL is more willing to adapt outside technology, as opposed to applying a full in-house design.[9]
In 2024, Tu Le of consultancy Sino Auto Insights claimed that the US was "years behind" China in batteries, and that "if the US is going to be competitive on the global stage with EVs, through 2030 they’re going to have to use Chinese batteries".[59]
In December 2023,Duke Energy disconnected CATL batteries fromMarine Corps Base Camp Lejeune due to security concerns.[60][61] CATL called accusations about its batteries posing espionage threats "false and misleading."[62][63] TheNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 prohibited US defense funding for CATL products.[64][65]
In June 2024, a group of U.S. lawmakers asked theUnited States Department of Homeland Security to add CATL to an import ban list under theUyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.[66][67] CATL said in a statement that the allegations against it were "groundless and completely false" and that it was in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.[68][69]
The world's largest battery manufacturer CATL is to begin production of its M3P batteries, which are 15 per cent more energy dense than LFP (Lithium iron phosphate) batteries, and will perform better and cost less than nickel and cobalt-based batteries...The increased energy density now at (210 kWh/kg) will enable EVs like the Tesla Model 3 to get a range of around 700 km with a similar sized battery pack to the existing LFP batteries CATL currently supplies Tesla.
