CATL's Robin Zeng Questions Tesla's 4680 Battery Technology

Robin Zeng, founder and chairman of Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), the world's largest EV battery maker, has expressed skepticism about Elon Musk's ambitious 4680 cylindrical cell technology, stating it 'is going to fail and never be successful.' During a debate in China, Zeng claimed Musk lacks the necessary knowledge for battery production, despite Tesla's production of 100 million cells designed to deliver five times the energy capacity of previous models. Musk has set a deadline for resolving production challenges associated with these cells, which are crucial for vehicles like the Cybertruck. In contrast, CATL's lithium iron phosphate batteries are widely used across various EV brands, valued for their safety and cost-efficiency but offering shorter ranges. Zeng highlighted Musk's tendency to overpromise on project timelines, particularly regarding Full Self-Driving technology, suggesting a disconnect between ambition and feasibility. While critical of Musk's battery expertise, Zeng acknowledged his strengths in areas like chips and software.