CATL has officially launched trial production of battery cells at its new facility in Debrecen, Hungary. The company successfully activated its first two production lines following the receipt of all necessary regulatory permits, including the occupancy permit granted in August and compliance with environmental standards.
The trial phase is designed to calibrate manufacturing equipment and validate production processes before the site transitions to full-scale operations. While the company has not provided a specific timeline for mass production, this milestone marks a significant expansion of its European manufacturing capabilities.
The Debrecen site is set to become the largest CATL production base outside of China, with a planned total capacity of 100 GWh. The company has been assembling battery modules at the location since the fall of 2024, having produced 537 000 units to date.
The project, announced in August 2022, represents the second European plant for the battery manufacturer. Construction of the initial cell building commenced in the summer of 2023, with the installation of production equipment finalized by the spring of 2026.
According to SNE Research, CATL remains the global leader in EV battery production. Between January and July, the company recorded 289,6 GWh in global installations, reflecting a 26,6 percent increase year-over-year and capturing a 39,9 percent share of the market.
