China’s CATL will increase the number of employees at its battery plant in Debrecen from the current 2,800 to 3,300 by the end of the year, following the start of trial production of battery cells alongside continuous module production, the company’s operational managing director in Debrecen announced at a press event presenting the plant on Thursday.
Qin Liang added that the third production line for modules, which began production in 2024, is now also operational. More than 500,000 modules have been produced so far, powering around 10,000 vehicles across Europe. Module production has generated HUF 100 billion in revenue for the company to date, on which it has paid taxes in Hungary, the managing director said.
The Debrecen plant is intended to meet the needs of European car manufacturers and will produce nickel-manganese-cobalt (NCM) and lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, the director said. He added that the Debrecen plant will provide long-term stability, jobs and new business opportunities for the region.
Qin Liang recalled that the cell plant received its occupancy permit in August and fulfilled all the conditions stipulated in its permits. Trial production of battery cells began on the first two production lines on September 22.
Following some technical adjustments, the company will also start cell production on the other two lines. During the trial operation, CATL specialists are continuously checking the equipment, product quality and safety, as well as full compliance with legal requirements.
The new cell plant has a maximum annual capacity of 40 GWh, which has already been fully booked by customers, the company said.
It was also announced at the press conference that the first phase of the investment has now been completed, with an investment of approximately HUF 900 billion. Once full capacity is reached, 4,000 people will work at the plant.
In response to questions from MTI, company representatives confirmed that the full investment is planned in three phases. The total investment of HUF 3,000 billion is expected to create jobs for 9,000 people and eventually provide an annual production capacity of 100 GWh.
The company also said it is open to negotiations with the government regarding the development, noting that an agreement had been reached on HUF 129 billion in state support for the implementation of the first phase.
Shen Feng, CATL’s executive director responsible for European operations, said at the press conference that the company began cell production in Germany in 2022. Initially, Chinese workers accounted for 40% of the workforce and German workers for 60%, while today 90% of the workforce is German. In Debrecen, the workforce is currently split 50-50 between Chinese and local employees, and the company plans to increase the share of Hungarian employees to 90% by 2030.
Qin Liang added that the company will launch a supplier campaign in October to increase the involvement of local businesses in production. CATL currently has more than 300 local suppliers, 80% of which are based in Debrecen or the surrounding region, he noted.
The plant director also addressed the Debrecen factory’s water consumption, a particularly sensitive issue in the city. He said the company had developed water-saving technology and a cooling tower that significantly reduces the plant’s industrial water demand.
As an example of water-saving measures, he said that in Debrecen, finished cells are cleaned with lasers rather than water before being handed over.
Thanks to the adiabatic cooling towers introduced in 2025, the plant can operate with water consumption 30% lower than originally planned and is capable of using greywater (treated water).
The company added that the plant is already capable of receiving greywater, but the local water utility is not yet able to supply it.
At the press event, the company also announced that it continuously provides authorities with information on the plant’s water and energy consumption and emissions, while monitoring data will be published every two months so that local residents can also access the information.
(MTI)
