CATL, the world’s leading battery supplier, showcases a highly automated production line at its new facility in Guizhou, China, with the potential to accelerate EV production.
In a groundbreaking development, China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), the world’s largest battery supplier by capacity, has inaugurated a state-of-the-art battery production phase boasting the remarkable capability to manufacture one lithium-ion cell per second. CATL, a key battery provider for renowned brands such as Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and more, attributes this astonishing pace to the incorporation of cutting-edge automation at its power and energy storage base located in Guian New District within China’s southwestern Guizhou province.
Spanning an impressive 0.36 square miles (0.95 square kilometers), this innovative manufacturing facility is structured in two phases, with a planned combined annual capacity of 60 gigawatt-hours. The initial phase, amounting to a substantial $960 million investment, is already operational, offering an annual production capacity of 30 GWh for power and energy storage batteries.
The true marvel lies in the extraordinary 95 percent automation implemented within the production process. This advanced technology allows the facility not only to produce a lithium-ion battery cell every second but also to assemble an entire battery pack in a mere 2.5 minutes. While the precise duration for producing individual cells and battery packs remains unspecified, the capability to craft high-density batteries at such a rapid rate is undeniably impressive.
Given the scale and prominence of CATL’s operations, there is little reason for skepticism regarding these claims. In the first half of 2023, CATL emerged as the leading automotive cell supplier globally, deploying nearly 93-gigawatt hours between January and June. As per our analysis of EV Volumes data, it is plausible that CATL could potentially reach a deployment of 200 GWh by year-end, outpacing competitors like LG Solution, BYD, Panasonic, SK On, and others. This new production facility is poised to fortify CATL’s position and potentially expedite the production of electric vehicles for its clients by bolstering the supply chain.
