CATL Considers U.S. Factory If Investment Approved

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), the world's largest electric vehicle battery manufacturer, has expressed interest in establishing a plant in the United States contingent upon President-elect Donald Trump facilitating Chinese investments. Robin Zeng, CATL's founder, noted that previous attempts to invest in the U.S. were met with government resistance, but he remains optimistic about future opportunities. The U.S. market has imposed significant trade barriers against Chinese battery manufacturers, which have prevented the entry of companies like CATL. Current legislation and tariffs have complicated partnerships with U.S. automakers, where CATL has licensing agreements with Tesla and Ford for battery production. Despite the barriers, Zeng's comments reflect a cautious hope that U.S. policy may shift to allow greater collaboration between American and Chinese firms in the electric vehicle sector. The outcome of these discussions remains uncertain as trade relations between the U.S. and China continue to be tense.