Debrecen -- CATL began trial production on September 22, 2026 at its newly built battery cell factory in Debrecen, Hungary, after clearing all preconditions tied to its IPPC environmental permit.
Trial run targets first two production lines at Debrecen facility
The trial phase covers the first two production lines of the cell manufacturing plant, following the occupancy permit obtained in August 2026. CATL will use the period to set up, optimize and validate production equipment and manufacturing processes ahead of full series production.
County government confirms earlier compliance deficiencies resolved
The Hajdú-Bihar County Government Office conducted repeated on-site inspections before issuing the occupancy permit, responding to concerns previously raised by local residents. Authority representatives confirmed that CATL had resolved all deficiencies identified earlier in the permitting process.
Debrecen site to become CATL's largest plant outside China at 100 GWh
Once fully operational, the Debrecen facility will reach a 100 GWh capacity, making it CATL's largest manufacturing base outside China. The plant is designed to supply battery cells to major European automakers that have already established significant electric vehicle production capacity in Hungary.
Module production since 2024 has already yielded 537,000 units
CATL has manufactured battery modules at the Debrecen site since autumn 2024, producing 537,000 modules to date. Construction of the first cell building began in summer 2023, with advanced manufacturing technology installed by spring 2026.
Company commits to ongoing health, safety and environmental monitoring
CATL Debrecen stated it will continue working closely with the Hungarian government and authorities during trial operations, monitoring employee health, safety and environmental factors and submitting results to regulators proactively. The company said it welcomes authorities to visit the site at any time.