CATL Reports Strong Growth in 2025, Strengthens Global Leadership in Battery and Energy Storage Markets

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) has reported strong financial and operational performance in its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting accelerated global expansion, technological innovation, and progress toward its goal of becoming a leading zero-carbon technology company.

In 2025, CATL recorded operating revenue of RMB 423.7 billion, representing a 17% year-on-year increase. Net profit attributable to shareholders reached RMB 72.2 billion, up 42%, while net cash flow from operating activities totaled RMB 133.2 billion.

The company continued to invest significantly in research and development, allocating RMB 22.1 billion to R&D in 2025. Over the past decade, CATL’s cumulative R&D spending has exceeded RMB 90 billion, reinforcing its focus on technology leadership and product innovation.

Global Battery Market Leadership

CATL further strengthened its position in the global battery market during 2025. The company’s annual lithium battery sales reached 661 GWh, reflecting 39% year-on-year growth.

According to data from SNE Research, CATL’s global power battery market share increased to 39.2%, maintaining its No. 1 ranking worldwide for nine consecutive years. Its overseas market share also rose to 30%. To date, CATL batteries have been installed in more than 24 million vehicles globally.

The company also expanded rapidly in the energy storage sector, where its battery shipments accounted for 30.4% of the global market in 2025, securing the top global position for the fifth consecutive year, according to SNE Research. Approximately 2,300 energy storage projects using CATL technology have been deployed worldwide, while shipments from its energy storage system integration business grew more than 160% year on year.

CATL is also supporting energy infrastructure for artificial intelligence. Its storage technology powers an AI data center operated by SenseTime in Shanghai, which reportedly saves over 10 million kWh of electricity annually, reduces electricity costs by 7%, and avoids approximately 3,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year.

Expansion into New Electrification Sectors

Beyond batteries and energy storage, CATL is expanding into additional sectors under its “all-domain growth” strategy.

In the aviation sector, its subsidiary AutoFlight completed the first public flight of the world’s largest 5-ton-class electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

In maritime applications, CATL’s battery systems have received type approval from five international classification societies across China, the United States, Norway, France, and Italy, and have been deployed in nearly 1,000 electric vessels worldwide. The company has also introduced a “Ship–Shore–Cloud” integrated zero-carbon shipping solution to support maritime decarbonisation.

Innovation Driving Competitiveness

CATL’s innovation network includes six global R&D centers and around 23,000 R&D personnel. By the end of the reporting period, the company held 54,538 domestic and international patents, including pending applications.

The company has also integrated artificial intelligence into its manufacturing and research systems. One of its initiatives, “Augmented Intelligence Leading Next-Generation Lithium-ion Battery Design,” received the MINDS award from the World Economic Forum.

During 2025, CATL launched several new battery technologies, including the second-generation Shenxing Superfast Charging Battery, Shenxing Pro Battery, Freevoy Dual-Power Battery, Naxtra Battery, and Super Hybrid Battery. The company also expects wider adoption of sodium-ion batteries starting in 2026, particularly in battery-swapping systems, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and energy storage.

Manufacturing Capacity Expansion

To meet rising global demand, CATL continued expanding its production capacity. By the end of 2025, the company had 772 GWh of production capacity, with an additional 321 GWh under construction.

CATL also operates the largest number of “Lighthouse” factories in the battery industry, recognized by the World Economic Forum, including the sector’s only “Sustainability Lighthouse.”

The company supports customers through approximately 1,200 after-sales service stations across 75 countries and regions.

Building a Zero-Carbon Energy Ecosystem

As part of its long-term strategy, CATL is developing a broader zero-carbon energy ecosystem. Its battery-swapping network has expanded significantly, with more than 1,000 Choco-Swap stations operating in 45 cities across China.

Meanwhile, QIJI Energy operates over 300 battery-swapping stations for heavy-duty trucks across 26 provinces, covering 78,000 kilometers of green logistics routes. Combined, the networks delivered more than 1.15 million battery-swapping services during 2025.

The company is also advancing zero-carbon energy systems, including green power direct connection, grid-forming energy storage, source-grid-load-storage integration, and zero-carbon industrial parks. CATL is currently working with regions such as Hainan, Shandong, Fujian, and Jiangsu to develop demonstration projects.

In Shandong, the company is building what it describes as the world’s first off-grid zero-carbon industrial park powered entirely by direct green electricity, which will supply 100% renewable power to a 40 GWh lithium-ion battery plant.

Sustainability and Circular Economy Initiatives

CATL also reported progress in sustainability and circular economy initiatives. In 2025, the company achieved an AA ESG rating from MSCI and was included for the first time in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook and the FTSE Emerging Index.

The company achieved carbon neutrality in its core operations in 2025 and launched the Global Energy Circularity Commitment (GECC) to promote battery recycling and circular energy systems.

During the year, CATL recycled 210,000 tonnes of spent batteries, a 63.2% increase year on year, recovering 24,000 tonnes of lithium salts, up 40.4%.

Looking ahead, CATL said it will continue strengthening technological innovation, expanding its global ecosystem, and building partnerships with customers worldwide to reinforce its position as a leading global zero-carbon technology company.