BUDAPEST - China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Limited (CATL) said on Wednesday its battery cell factory in Debrecen, Hungary, is prepared for launch and will be central to the company's strategy to deepen its long-term European operations.
The plant, with an initial annual capacity of 40 gigawatt hours (GWh), is already fully booked by clients, CATL said. Cell production is scheduled to start in early 2026 after construction and installation of Industry 4.0 equipment is completed. The company is expanding its local workforce and expects to employ 1,500 people by the first quarter of 2026.
"Our Debrecen investment is a major step towards strengthening CATL's European presence," said Matt Shen, managing director of CATL Germany and Hungary. "We are planning for the long term, bringing our most advanced and sustainable manufacturing technologies to Hungary."
Shen added that European partners had been "eagerly awaiting" the project's completion.
CATL said the plant was designed to meet strict European environmental standards, with recent permit adjustments cutting projected energy use by nearly 30 percent and reducing potable water demand to about a third of earlier estimates. The company aims to achieve carbon-neutral certification for the facility within two years of launch.
The Debrecen site's workforce has already exceeded 1,000, with two-thirds of new hires coming from the local community, the company said.
Recruitment head Alexandra Kitta said the company aims to create a "local company with international know-how and opportunities."
Related News
First Full-Timetable China-Europe Railway Express Service Launches on Xi'an-Budapest (Hungary) Route
2025-11-27
On the evening of November 22, the X8159 China-Europe Railway Express, operated by China Railway Xi'an Group Co., Ltd., sounded its departure whistle and slowly departed from Xi'an Guojigang Railway Station, laden with 45 containers of electronics, auto parts, and general merchandise, beginning its westward journey to Budapest, Hungary.
China-Europe freight train turns inland furniture hub into global trade player
2025-11-26
According to a report on China-Europe freight trains, as of October 2025, the service had made 118,600 trips, transporting 11.7 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of goods, reaching 232 cities in 26 European countries.
What's Keeping Ningbo "Buyers" Busy on Eve of CIIE?
2025-11-05
The 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) is set to officially open its doors tomorrow.
Serbia launches regular train service on Chinese-built railway
2025-10-10
Serbia on Wednesday launched regular high-speed train services between Belgrade and Subotica, marking the full operation of the country's first 200-km-per-hour railway line, a landmark project under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Ningbo Manufacturers Expand Global Reach with Strong Trade Growth in Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs)
2025-09-19
From January to August, the total import and export value between Ningbo and CEECs reached 41.06 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.3 percent. Exports amounted to 34.03 billion yuan, while imports totaled 7.03 billion yuan.
China-Europe Railway Express: Two-Way Connectivity Fuels Regional Economic Growth
2025-09-17
From January to August 2025, a total of 2,002 Shandong China-Europe freight train services were completed, with return journeys accounting for 46%, demonstrating smooth two-way connectivity.
China Brand Fair in Budapest boosts economic ties with CEEC
2025-06-30
The China Brand Fair 2025 kicked off here on Thursday, bringing together over 270 companies from 17 Chinese provinces and municipalities.
Hot News
