China's CATL and BYD Command Over Half of Global EV Battery Market

Chinese battery manufacturers CATL and BYD together hold about 54 % of the worldwide market for electric‑vehicle batteries, with CATL’s share rising to roughly 40 % and BYD’s to 14 % in 2026. The dominance extends across the top ten producers, where seven are Chinese firms; South Korea’s LG Energy Solution ranks third with an 8.6 % share, followed by CALB, Gotion High‑Tech and Panasonic. European players, notably French companies such as ACC and Verkor, remain far behind, prompting criticism of the EU’s progress toward battery sovereignty.

In parallel, Chinese automakers are facing internal criticism of extended‑range electric vehicles (EREV). Industry leaders note that most owners rarely use the gasoline engine, with surveys showing 90 % of EREV drivers operating in pure electric mode and 70 % refueling less than once every six months. Companies such as Li Auto, Xpeng, BYD, Leapmotor and Xiaomi have introduced larger batteries that diminish the need for a combustion‑engine backup, leading some executives to call for the phase‑out of the range‑extender concept.

The combined trends highlight China’s leading role in EV battery technology and a shift away from hybrid‑type architectures as pure‑electric models become more capable.