CATL Debrecen Battery Plant Prepared for Launch, Production Set for Early 2026

CATL Debrecen Plant Nears Operation

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), a leading Chinese battery manufacturer, has announced that its battery cell factory in Debrecen, Hungary, is prepared for launch. The facility, a cornerstone of CATL's European expansion, is scheduled to commence battery cell production in early 2026, with specific timelines pointing to March or April 2026, pending necessary permits. The plant's initial annual capacity of 40 Gigawatt-hours (GWh) is already fully booked by clients, underscoring the high demand for electric vehicle (EV) batteries in the European market.

Significant Investment and Capacity

The Debrecen plant represents a substantial investment by CATL, initially announced in August 2022, totaling approximately €7.34 billion. This makes it Hungary's largest greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) project to date. The overall planned production capacity for the entire project is set to reach 100 GWh. The facility, located in the Southern Industrial Park of Debrecen, covers an area of 221 hectares and is designed to supply both battery cells and modules to European automakers. Module assembly at the site has already been underway for over a year, with more than 120,000 modules produced, powering over 30,000 electric vehicles in Europe.

Job Creation and Strategic Importance

The project is expected to create a significant number of employment opportunities, with a total of 9,000 new jobs projected upon full realization. Currently, the workforce at the Debrecen site exceeds 1,000 employees, with plans to increase this number to 1,500 by the first quarter of 2026. CATL's strategic choice of Debrecen is attributed to Hungary's stable business environment, well-developed infrastructure, and proximity to major European automotive manufacturers. The plant aims to serve key customers including:

• Mercedes-Benz
• BMW
• Stellantis
• Volkswagen

Matt Shen, Managing Director of CATL Germany and Hungary, emphasized the plant's role, stating, 'Our Debrecen investment is a major step towards strengthening CATL's European presence. We are planning for the long term, bringing our most advanced and sustainable manufacturing technologies to Hungary. Our European partners have been eagerly awaiting the completion of the Debrecen project. Production capacity at our first plant is already 100 per cent booked.'

Commitment to Sustainability

CATL has highlighted its commitment to environmental sustainability in the design and operation of the Debrecen factory. The plant is engineered to meet stringent European environmental standards, with recent permit adjustments leading to a nearly 30 percent reduction in projected energy use and approximately a one-third decrease in potable water demand compared to earlier estimates. The company plans to utilize renewable energy sources, including the development of its own solar power facilities, and aims to achieve carbon-neutral certification for the plant within two years of its launch. These measures underscore CATL's ambition to contribute to the acceleration of e-mobility and the energy transition in Europe through sustainable manufacturing practices.