CATL has started trial production of battery cells on the first two lines of its new cell factory in Debrecen, Hungary. The company says the site will reach 100 GWh of capacity and become its largest manufacturing base outside China. CATL said this week that trial runs began on September 22, 2026, after the plant met all preconditions required to start operations. According to the company, the trial phase is meant to set up, optimize, and validate production equipment and manufacturing processes before series production begins.
Highlights
- 100 GWh: Planned capacity of the Debrecen site once all facilities are complete, according to CATL.
- Two production lines: Trial operations are running on the first two lines of the cell manufacturing facility.
- 537,000 modules: Battery modules produced at Debrecen since module manufacturing began there in fall 2024.
- August 2026: The month the plant received its occupancy permit, ahead of trial production.
From Announcement to Trial Run
CATL announced the Debrecen project as its second European battery plant in August 2022. Its stated aims were to integrate into the European automotive and e-mobility supply chain and to serve European automakers. Construction of the first cell building started in summer 2023. The company reports that the building had been fully equipped by spring 2026.
What Permits Did CATL Need to Start Production?
The plant received its occupancy permit in August 2026. CATL says it then obtained all remaining relevant permits and completed the preconditions set out in its IPPC permit before starting trial operations.
Before the occupancy permit was issued, the Hajdú-Bihar County Government Office carried out regular on-site inspections at CATL’s facilities. Those inspections followed up on earlier issues that had raised serious concerns among local residents. According to CATL, authority representatives confirmed that the company had resolved all deficiencies identified earlier in the permitting process.
Monitoring During the Trial Phase
CATL says it will monitor employee health, safety, and environmental factors throughout the trial operation and submit the results to the authority proactively. The company also says it will keep working with the Hungarian government and authorities on environmental standards and employee health and safety. It adds that authorities are welcome to visit the site at any time.
Module Output and Customer Base
Cell production is not CATL’s first manufacturing activity in Debrecen. The company has built battery modules at the site since fall 2024 and reports producing 537,000 modules to date.
CATL says the plant will supply European automakers that have built significant electric vehicle production capacity in Hungary in recent years. The company describes the Debrecen production lines as flexible and says they are designed to meet customer requirements. Once all facilities are ready, CATL expects the Hungarian plant to be its largest manufacturing base outside China, at 100 GWh.
