Inbizzy, Debrecen, Hungary – Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer from China, announced that its new facility in Debrecen, Hungary, is expected to begin production by late 2025 or early 2026, slightly ahead of its original schedule.
CATL has invested €7.3 billion (US$8.55 billion) in the project, which will supply major automakers including BMW, Stellantis, and Volkswagen.
The Debrecen plant will be significantly larger than CATL’s existing European site in Germany, with an annual production capacity of 100 gigawatt-hours. The facility is also projected to create approximately 9,000 new jobs in the region.
Matt Shen, CATL’s General Manager for Europe, highlighted the company’s accelerated timeline:
“The current target is to start production in Debrecen by the end of this year or early next year, so within four to five months,” he said.
Despite slowing EV demand in Europe, CATL remains optimistic. The company maintained a 38% share of the global EV battery market in 2024, reaffirming its leadership in the industry.
The Hungarian expansion is supported by a US$4.6 billion fundraising through a Hong Kong stock exchange offering earlier this year.
This move underscores CATL’s ambition to strengthen its global footprint while positioning Europe as a critical hub in the EV supply chain.
