CATL’s battery testing center in Arnstadt, Germany is set for a major expansion, with testing capacity doubling by early 2026 to become one of Europe’s largest battery cell testing facilities.
The facility began production in late 2022 and was officially inaugurated in early 2023, marking CATL’s first cell manufacturing base in Europe. Cells produced at this plant are used in the Porsche Macan manufactured in Leipzig and the Audi Q6 e-tron produced in Ingolstadt.
The facility houses a battery testing and validation center that received certification from major customer Volkswagen Group last year. Established with support from the Thuringian state government, the testing facility is equipped with specialized machinery and infrastructure capable of evaluating all types of batteries with different chemistries and production formats for performance, longevity, and compatibility with modern electric vehicle powertrains.
Testing capabilities include simulating various charging station environments, assessing the impact of temperature fluctuations on battery performance down to -30 degrees Celsius, and conducting charge-discharge performance tests using typical driving profiles.
Matt Shen, Managing Director of CATL Germany, told the German news agency dpa: “With the expansion of our test and validation center, CATL is taking an important step to meet the growing demand for advanced battery solutions in Europe.”
This capacity expansion aligns with CATL’s broader European growth strategy. The Chinese company plans to build a cell factory in Zaragoza, Spain in partnership with Stellantis, with an investment of up to €4.1 billion. In Debrecen, Hungary, CATL is also constructing a cell factory expected to begin operations next year, supplying customers including Mercedes-Benz.
CATL currently employs 1,700 people in Arnstadt. Initially, many staff members were Chinese specialists who are gradually returning home and being replaced by local personnel. CATL also provides vocational training at the site for machine and plant operators, mechatronics technicians, industrial mechanics, and warehouse logistics specialists.
In February, CATL announced plans to further ramp up production in Arnstadt. The plant was originally designed for an annual capacity of 14 GWh, with an investment of €1.8 billion.
