KATHMANDU: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited founder Robin Zeng has said that the United States may struggle to scale its electric vehicle (EV) market without access to CATL’s battery technology.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, American automakers continue to rely on Chinese expertise despite political and regulatory restrictions.
CATL is currently the world’s largest EV battery maker. Its batteries are used in roughly one out of every three EVs globally. The company reported more than $10 billion in profit last year, even without a strong presence in the U.S. market due to national security and regulatory barriers.
Major U.S. Automakers are already working with CATL. Ford Motor Company is licensing CATL’s battery technology for its $3 billion Michigan plant. Similarly, General Motors plans to import CATL-made batteries for its upcoming affordable EV models, despite high import tariffs.
CATL’s key strength is its lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology. These batteries are up to 30% cheaper than traditional nickel-based batteries. The company has also developed fast-charging batteries that can deliver up to 320 miles of range in just five minutes.
Tesla is also using CATL technology in its energy storage business, showing the growing global dependence on Chinese battery innovation.
However, the U.S. policymakers remain cautious. CATL has been restricted from setting up factories in the U.S. due to concerns over supply chain dependence and national security. The company has also been added to a U.S. defense-related watch list, a claim CATL has denied.
Zeng said EV adoption in the U.S. may remain slow in the short term, but he expects strong growth in the coming years. He added that building a competitive EV ecosystem without CATL would be both costly and challenging.
Looking ahead, CATL is investing in next-generation technologies, including sodium-ion batteries. At the same time, the U.S. and global automakers are trying to reduce reliance on Chinese suppliers.
