CATL Eyes U.S. Plant Amid Policy Shift

Chinese battery manufacturer CATL is considering establishing a manufacturing plant in the U.S., contingent on favorable trade policies from the incoming Trump administration. Previously, the U.S. government rejected CATL's investment plans due to protectionist measures initiated during Trump's first term and maintained under Biden's administration, which exclude Chinese-made batteries from EV tax credits. Trump's recent openness to Chinese firms building plants in the U.S. presents a potential opportunity for CATL, which has so far engaged in licensing deals with U.S. automakers like Ford and Tesla. Despite bipartisan resistance to Chinese investments over national security concerns, CATL's chairman, Robin Zeng, remains optimistic. Additionally, CATL is expanding globally, with plans for new facilities in Europe and a strategic shift towards integrated energy systems and EV platforms. These moves aim to significantly reduce EV development costs and broaden the market for new competitors.