CATL Begins Trial Production of Battery Cells in Hungary
CATL has commenced trial production of battery cells at its new plant in Debrecen, Hungary. The company has met all prerequisites necessary for the trial launch.
Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has started trial production of battery cells at its newly built plant in Debrecen, Hungary, the company announced on September 23, 2026. The trial run began on September 22, 2026, after all necessary prerequisites were met.
The Debrecen facility marks CATL's first production site in Europe and is intended to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles for European automakers. Once fully operational, the plant is projected to employ up to 9,000 people.
Full-scale production was initially slated to commence by the end of 2025. However, the company has faced local opposition and concerns from residents and politicians regarding the plant's environmental impact and water consumption.
CATL is the world's largest supplier of electric vehicle batteries. Its expansion into Europe represents a significant step in its global growth strategy, catering to the increasing demand in the European electric vehicle market.