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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). CATL is the biggest EV and energy storage battery manufacturer in the world, with a global market share of around 38% and 36.5% respectively in 2025. It is headquartered in Ningde, Fujian province.
CATL was founded in Ningde, which is reflected in its Chinese name (宁德时代 '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 batteries for portable devices based on licensed technology. In 2005, ATL was acquired by Japan's TDK company, but Zeng continued as a manager for ATL.
While the Chinese government started subsidizing EVs in 2009, ATL had set up an R&D division for EV batteries. In 2011, A group of Chinese investors, led by Zeng and vice-chairman Huang Shilin, spun off the EV battery operations of ATL into the new company CATL after acquiring an 85% stake. Former parent TDK retained its 15% stake in CATL until 2015. Zeng has applied management styles of TDK and Huawei to his company.
Amid 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 and government subsidization of the battery industry. In 2011, China required foreign automakers to transfer crucial technology to domestic companies in order to receive subsidies for electric vehicles. In 2012, CATL established cooperation with BMW Brilliance, its first main customer. 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.
In June 2018, CATL went public on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.
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 the same year, CATL announced that it would establish a new battery factory in Arnstadt, Thuringia, Germany.
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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). CATL is the biggest EV and energy storage battery manufacturer in the world, with a global market share of around 38% and 36.5% respectively in 2025. It is headquartered in Ningde, Fujian province.
CATL was founded in Ningde, which is reflected in its Chinese name (宁德时代 '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 batteries for portable devices based on licensed technology. In 2005, ATL was acquired by Japan's TDK company, but Zeng continued as a manager for ATL.
While the Chinese government started subsidizing EVs in 2009, ATL had set up an R&D division for EV batteries. In 2011, A group of Chinese investors, led by Zeng and vice-chairman Huang Shilin, spun off the EV battery operations of ATL into the new company CATL after acquiring an 85% stake. Former parent TDK retained its 15% stake in CATL until 2015. Zeng has applied management styles of TDK and Huawei to his company.
Amid 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 and government subsidization of the battery industry. In 2011, China required foreign automakers to transfer crucial technology to domestic companies in order to receive subsidies for electric vehicles. In 2012, CATL established cooperation with BMW Brilliance, its first main customer. 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.
In June 2018, CATL went public on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.
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 the same year, CATL announced that it would establish a new battery factory in Arnstadt, Thuringia, Germany.