100 GWh CATL EV battery factory starts trial runs with two production lines

CATL has begun trial production of battery cells at its new factory in Debrecen, Hungary, marking a key step toward supplying European automakers from a local manufacturing base. The Chinese battery maker said on September 22 that the plant had secured the permits and met the regulatory requirements needed to start trial operations.

The first two production lines are now being tested as CATL prepares the facility for series production. The company has not provided a date for full-scale manufacturing.

First cell lines enter trial operations

Trial production will allow CATL to set up, optimize, and validate the equipment and manufacturing processes before series production begins. The company said the Debrecen facility had met all conditions required to begin the trial run.

The firm received the plant’s occupancy permit in August 2026. It then obtained the remaining relevant permits and completed the requirements under its Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) permit.

Local authorities carried out regular inspections before granting the occupancy permit. The inspections followed up on earlier issues that had caused concerns among local residents. Authorities confirmed that the deficiencies identified during the permitting process had been addressed.

Factory targets European automakers

CATL announced the Debrecen project in August 2022 as its second European battery plant after its facility in Germany. The company said the project is intended to strengthen its position in Europe’s automotive and electric mobility supply chain.

Construction of the first cell building began in summer 2023, while production equipment installation was completed by spring 2026. The factory reportedly uses flexible production lines designed to meet the requirements of its customers.

The facility has already been producing battery modules since autumn 2024. The battery maker said it has produced 537,000 modules at the Hungarian site so far.

100 GWh capacity planned

Once all planned facilities are ready, the Debrecen site is expected to become CATL’s largest manufacturing base outside China. The company has put its planned capacity at 100 gigawatt-hours (GWh).

The factory is positioned near Hungary’s growing electric vehicle manufacturing sector. CATL said it will supply major European automakers that have established significant EV production capacity in the country.

The start of cell trials comes after an earlier target for production. According to reports in September 2025, CATL’s European general manager Matt Shen informed that the company had been aiming to start production in late 2025 or early 2026.

CATL steps up European battery production

The firm said it will continue working with the Hungarian government and regulatory authorities throughout the trial period. The company will monitor employee health, safety, and environmental indicators and proactively submit the results to regulators.

CATL is the world’s largest EV battery maker by installations. Data from South Korean market researcher SNE Research showed that the battery maker recorded 289.6 GWh of global battery installations from January through July 2026, up 26.6 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Its global market share increased to 39.9 percent during the period, compared with 38.0 percent a year earlier. The Debrecen plant adds another major manufacturing location as CATL expands its production footprint closer to European vehicle manufacturers.