CATL commences trial production at its newest facility in Hungary

Global technology company CATL has once again made history through trial production activities at its newest facility in Debrecen, Hungary.

CarnewsChina reported on Tuesday (22/09) local time that this milestone follows the company’s success in meeting all necessary prerequisites and regulatory requirements. This marks a significant step forward for the facility, which is intended to become CATL’s largest manufacturing base outside of China, with a planned capacity of 100 GWh.

The trial phase is designed to prepare, optimise, and validate production equipment and manufacturing processes before full-scale series production begins. The first two production lines at the facility are currently operating for this testing purpose.

This launch follows a period of strict regulatory oversight. Earlier this year, the Hajdú-Bihar County Government Office had ordered a temporary suspension of operations in certain areas of the factory due to occupational safety concerns regarding nickel exposure. Hungarian authorities have since confirmed that the company has rectified all previously identified deficiencies, allowing the project to proceed.

The Debrecen plant serves as a strategic hub for the European automotive industry, supplying major car manufacturers that have established significant electric vehicle production capacities in Hungary. In addition to the new battery cell production lines, the site has successfully produced battery modules since autumn 2024, with a total production of 537,000 units to date.

CATL stated that they will continue to work closely with the Hungarian government and local authorities. Employee health, safety, and environmental factors will continue to be monitored during the trial period, with results proactively communicated to regulators.