CATL

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) is a Chinese battery manufacturer and technology company founded in 2011 that specializes in the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems, as well as battery management systems (BMS). The company is the biggest EV battery manufacturer, with a global market share of around 37% in 2023. The company is headquartered in the city of Ningde in China's Fujian province.

History
CATL was founded in Ningde, which is reflected in its Chinese name ('Ningde era'). The company started as a spin-off of Amperex Technology Limited (ATL), a previous business founded by Robin Zeng in 1999. ATL initially manufactured lithium-polymer batteries based on licensed technology but later developed more reliable battery designs themselves. In 2005, ATL was acquired by Japan's TDK company, but Zeng continued as a manager for ATL. In 2011, Zeng and vice-chairman Huang Shilin spun off the EV battery operations of ATL into the new company CATL. Until 2015, former parent TDK held a 15% stake in CATL. Zeng has applied management styles of TDK and Huawei to his company.

Growth and Technology
Due to 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. In 2012, CATL has established cooperation with BMW Brilliance. China's dominant position in the battery manufacturing supply chain, including the control over rare-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 from Panasonic and L.G. Chemical.

In 2016, CATL was the world's third largest provider of EV, HEV and PHEV batteries, behind Panasonic (Sanyo) and BYD. In 2017, CATL's sales of power battery system reached 11.84GWh, taking the lead worldwide for the first time.

In January 2017, CATL announced a strategic partnership with Valmet Automotive, focusing on project management, engineering and battery pack supply. CATL acquired a 22% stake in Valmet Automotive.

BMW announced in 2018 that it would buy €4 billion worth of batteries from CATL for use in the electric Mini and iNext vehicles.

In 2018, CATL announced that it would establish a new battery factory in Arnstadt, Thuringia, Germany.

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).

In 2021 the company unveiled a sodium-ion battery for the automotive market. A battery recycling facility is planned to recover some of the materials.

2022–present
In the first half, CATL ranked first in the world with a market share of 34 percent, according to SNE research. CATL announced plans to establish a battery factory in Debrecen, Hungary. Their Yibin manufacturing plant was certified as the world's first zero-carbon battery factory.

In July Ford announced buying batteries from CATL for use in the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Ford F-150 Lightning models, which subsequently raised concerns with the United States House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. In October, CATL expanded its deal with VinFast to provide a skateboard chassis and "enhance global footprint".

On August 12, 2022, CATL announced its second European battery plant in Hungary.

In 2023, 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.

Later that year, the company announced its Shenxing LFP battery. 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. Ford announced a 2,500 worker battery plant in Marshall, 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.

In November 2023, CATL and Stellantis announced that they are considering the possibility of a joint investment in the form of a joint venture with equivalent contributions. On December 7, 2023, CATL and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a CATL research center at the HKSTP with investment of over HKD 1.2 billion.

In 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.

Facilities
CATL operates thirteen battery manufacturing plants worldwide, namely in:

• Guiyang, China

• Jining, China

• Liyang, China

• Luoyang, China

• Ningde, China

• Nanhui New City, China

• Xiamen, China

• Xining, China

• Yibin, China

• Yichun, China

• Zhaoqing, China

• Erfurt, Germany

• Debrecen, Hungary

Partnerships
Due to its main competitor BYD Company prioritizing battery supply to its own vehicles, CATL was able to capture partnerships with foreign automakers. CATL's battery technology is currently used by electric vehicle manufacturers in the international market, and CATL collaborates with companies including BMW, Daimler AG, Hyundai, Honda, Li Auto, NIO, PSA, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo and XPeng.

In China, its clients include BAIC Motor, Geely, GAC Group, Yutong Bus, Zhongtong Bus, Xiamen King Long, SAIC Motor and Foton Motor. CATL also partners with Valmet Automotive, BMW, Ford,   VinFast, and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.

Assessment
According to former Tesla battery supply chain manager Vivas Kumar, CATL "are seen as the leaders of lithium iron phosphate battery (LFP battery) technology". The company employs the cell-to-pack method to reduce the inactive weight of its batteries. It increases volume utilization rate by 15% to 20%, doubles the production efficiency and reduces the number of parts for a battery pack by 40%, while the energy density of a battery pack jumps from 140 to 150 Wh/Kg to 200 Wh/Kg.

According to Kumar, unlike competitors such as LG Chem or SK Innovation, CATL is more willing to adapt outside technology, as opposed to applying a full in-house design.

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".

Security concerns
In December 2023, Duke Energy disconnected CATL batteries from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune due to security concerns. CATL called accusations about its batteries posing espionage threats "false and misleading." The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 prohibited US defense funding for CATL products.

In June 2024, a group of U.S. lawmakers asked the United States Department of Homeland Security to add CATL to an import ban list under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. 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.