Chinese battery maker giant CATL revealed when serial production will start in Hungary
Chinese battery maker CATL will start serial production at its plant in Debrecen (East Hungary) in March or April of 2026, Matt Shen, the general manager of CATL Europe said on Wednesday.
Shen said the start would depend on the issue of permits. He added that module assembly had started in Debrecen in 2024, with output reaching levels sufficient for 30,000 vehicles. In preparation for the start of serial cell production, headcount will rise from 1,000 to 1,500 in Q1 2026, he said.
Shen said electric vehicles were growing in popularity in Europe, with their share of new car sales at 26pc and on the path to reach 29pc by year-end. He added that CATL counted 200 vehicle makers among its business partners, with a market share of 37.9pc.
Alexandra Kitta, in charge of recruitment, said two-thirds of staff at present were locals and the rest were foreigners, but the goal was to boost the number of Hungarians on payroll. Around 80pc of staff are blue collar workers, she added.
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