CATL factory in Hungary faces partial shutdown over nickel exposure

Hungarian authorities have temporarily suspended operations in specific sections of CATL’s factory in Debrecen following reports of increased nickel exposure among nine employees. Inspections conducted by relevant services identified deficiencies regarding personal protective equipment and safety protocols.

The work prohibition applies to three specific areas of the cell production unit: laser cutting of electrode materials, electrode winding, and the cell drying process. While these critical stages are affected, the entire facility has not ceased operations. The plant is currently in a developmental phase, with battery module assembly lines active using cells sourced from other CATL facilities.

This incident occurs as the Debrecen site faces existing delays in reaching full cell production capacity. The facility is considered strategically important for CATL and the European automotive industry, with an initial planned annual capacity of 40 GWh.