CATL launches trial production on first two lines of Debrecen battery plant
CATL has begun pilot manufacturing on the initial two production lines of its new battery cell factory in Debrecen, according to a company statement.
CATL reported that it has commenced trial production on the first two cell-manufacturing lines at its new Debrecen plant. The factory's initial building was erected starting in the summer of 2023 and was fully fitted out by the spring of 2026. All conditions of the IPPC permit have been met and the operating licence was issued in August 2026.
The firm reiterated its commitment to close cooperation with the government and to prioritise employee health and safety. This emphasis follows a recent suspension of operations at three of its cell-manufacturing units after regulators identified heightened nickel exposure for workers, leading the regional government to reject the plant's usage permit request. Subsequent inspections found inadequate protective equipment, which the company says has now been remedied.
Why it matters
The start of trial production signals progress for Europe's battery supply chain while highlighting ongoing occupational-health scrutiny.
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