CATL expands global battery investments as EV market grows

Robin Zeng, founder of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd (CATL), has overseen the Chinese group’s rise to control roughly 40% of the global electric‑vehicle battery market, generating about $61.4 billion in sales last year. Investments such as the new Xiamen centre and the rollout of battery‑swapping stations for electric lorries in Europe illustrate CATL’s strategy to move beyond supplying car makers and become a high‑tech player in the renewable‑energy sector, according to CATL’s head of overseas investment Oscar Luo.

Analysts expect the worldwide battery‑energy‑storage market to expand six‑fold by the end of the decade, with China and the United States leading the growth. The shift is driven by increasing solar and wind capacity, which recently produced more electricity globally than gas for the first time. Battery‑energy‑storage systems (BESS) can capture surplus clean power for use during low‑generation periods, supporting the broader transition away from fossil fuels.