China's CATL heads to auto show: batteries charged in 6 minutes, range of up to 1,500 km

Chinese battery giant CATL unveiled its new EV batteries at a press conference held shortly before the major auto show in Beijing. One of them is a model that should be able to power an electric vehicle for up to 1,500 km on a single charge, while another is expected to charge in six minutes. Other Chinese brands will also be at the Beijing auto show.

CATL, which together with BYD dominates the Chinese and global battery markets, particularly the EV battery segment, says it has developed two battery models that push the boundaries of what is possible. According to the manufacturer, the latest version of its Qilin battery can deliver a range of up to 1,500 km, a significant increase on the current limit of 1,000 km for this model.

The manufacturer also unveiled an upgrade to its current Shenxing model, which should now be able to charge from 10 to 98% in six and a half minutes. That is even faster than BYD's best battery, which charges from 10 to 98% in eight minutes. CATL and BYD are the biggest players in the EV battery market and also its main competitors. Together, the two Chinese giants account for more than half of the global market. Chinese companies have a share of around 70% of this market.

Robin Zeng, CATL's billionaire CEO, said of the development, according to Financial Times:

“The limits of electrochemistry are still far off, and the possibilities of materials science are far from exhausted.”

CATL has long attracted interest from foreign investors, and this trend has accelerated further since the start of the war in Iran. The company's Hong Kong-listed shares have risen by more than 40% since the start of the year and by 140% over the past 12 months.

The company also plans to take part in building 100,000 charging and battery-swapping stations across China.

Beijing auto show

CATL made these announcements just days before the start of the Beijing auto show, which is scheduled to run from April 24 to May 3. It is China's main forum where all automakers, both domestic and foreign, showcase their products and latest developments.

CATL batteries are, of course, also found in cars made by Western brands. Tesla, for example, remains its biggest customer despite efforts to become self-sufficient. The batteries are also used by, among others, BMW, Volkswagen, Ford, Volvo and others, including domestic brands such as Geely.

This year's Beijing show is also in the spotlight because Chinese companies are expected to make a strong showing. They have been on the rise in recent years thanks to their strong position in the EV market. This year, companies are expected to try to enter the luxury car market as well, potentially at the expense of Western companies such as BMW, which are already losing ground in China.

Chinese automakers have been preparing for the event for a long time. Geely, for example, is reportedly planning to unveil new models from its luxury division Zeekr, with the X8 hybrid SUV expected to be the main attraction. The head of Xiaomi Auto, meanwhile, has decided to livestream his 15-hour drive from Beijing to Shanghai to demonstrate the range of the new SU7 model.

Despite tariffs, Chinese EVs are gradually entering the European market. Whether they can continue that push with SUV models remains to be seen. But whichever companies win the battle for customers' hearts, their technological foundations will run through China and, most likely, CATL batteries.