2011–2021
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.[11][12][13] 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 LG Chem.[14]
In 2016, CATL was the world's third largest provider of EV, HEV and PHEV batteries, behind Panasonic (Sanyo) and BYD.[15] In 2017, CATL's sales of power battery system reached 11.84GWh, taking the lead worldwide for the first time.[16]
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.[17]
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.[18]
In June 2020, CATL director Robin Zeng announced that the company had achieved a battery for electric vehicles (EVs) rated as good for 1 million miles (or 1.6 million kilometers).[19]
In 2021 the company unveiled a sodium-ion battery for the automotive market.[20] A battery recycling facility is planned to recover some of the materials.[21] CATL continued to invest in cobalt batteries as well, and acquired a near 25% stake in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Kisanfu cobalt mine, one of the world's largest sources of cobalt.[22][12]
Since 2022
In the first half, CATL ranked first in the world with a market share of 34 percent, according to SNE research.[23] CATL announced plans to establish a battery factory in Debrecen, Hungary.[24][25] Their Yibin manufacturing plant was certified as the world's first zero-carbon battery factory.[26]
In July 2022, Ford announced buying batteries from CATL for use in the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Ford F-150 Lightning models, which subsequently raised concerns with the United States House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. In October, CATL expanded its deal with VinFast to provide a skateboard chassis and "enhance global footprint".
