Business 26 June 2025, 5:21pm

CATL rebuffs news about suspension of Hungarian investment

Portfolio

Contrary to press reports published today, China's CATL, which is currently building a plant in Debrecen, has officially announced that it will continue to develop the site. Previous reports had suggested that the second phase of the plant would be put on hold, but CATL has confirmed that it is merely reviewing the timing and technological parameters of the investment.

According to a local press report today, the world's largest battery manufacturer, the Chinese CATL, has suspended indefinitely the preparation of the second phase of its plant in Debrecen. According to the report, the decision was made mainly due to the prospect of a tariff war and the resulting market uncertainty.

Today, the CATL plant in Debrecen issued an official statement

refuting the report.

The original version of the press release (or rather its unofficial translation) is as follows:

Rumours that CATL is suspending investment in its second plant in Debrecen are false.

CATL's experts are currently reviewing the technology and investment schedule for the second battery cell plant in Debrecen. The aim is to implement the most advanced, low-emission, energy-efficient solutions at the Hungarian site. The second phase has never been in doubt.

Meanwhile, the company is focusing on completing the first factory in Debrecen, with the aim of starting cell production as soon as possible.

They have not suspended the second phase, but are only reviewing the schedule and technological parameters.

Construction of the first factory, which is worth around HUF 1,000 billion, began in 2023 and is now well underway. The buildings have been completed and the production lines are being installed. Trial production is expected to begin in autumn, with mass production set to start in winter. The company plans to employ around 2,000 people for the first phase of production.

Cover photo: Chan Long Hei/Bloomberg via Getty Images