Cell & Pack Manufacturing

Profiles of C&P Industry Players

Summary: CATL remained the world’s dominant battery cell supplier in 2025, reinforced by continued technology leadership and global expansion despite limited direct exposure to the US market. The company pushed aggressively into next-generation chemistries and form factors, including fast-charging LFP, sodium-ion, and high-energy-density Qilin packs. While geopolitical constraints limited CATL’s ability to build US manufacturing capacity, it expanded licensing, technology partnerships, and overseas production in Europe and emerging markets. CATL’s ESS business continued to grow rapidly, benefiting from grid-scale demand and vertical integration advantages.

Summary: BYD further strengthened its position in 2025 as the world’s most vertically integrated EV and battery manufacturer. The company’s Blade Battery platform continued to gain adoption across BYD’s own vehicle lineup and select third-party OEMs, while BYD accelerated global expansion in both EV and stationary storage markets. Unlike other Chinese suppliers, BYD made meaningful inroads into overseas manufacturing, positioning itself as both a battery supplier and a full-stack energy solutions provider. Its ESS business grew alongside large-scale solar-plus-storage deployments worldwide.

Notable events:

VW announces strategic cooperation with CATL to develop batteries in China jointly (Feb 2025) CATL unveils 3 new battery technologies at “Tech Day” (Apr 2025) CATL begins construction of additional European manufacturing capacity to support BMW, Stellantis, and VW platforms (Jun 2025) CATL launches new grid-scale ESS products targeting long-duration (Oct 2025)

Top level numbers: CATL’s global installed and planned capacity exceeded 600 GWh in 2025, maintaining its position as the world’s largest battery manufacturer by a wide margin. While direct US production remains minimal, CATL continues to supply a significant share of global EV and ESS demand through China, Europe, and licensing-based market access.

Notable events:

BYD Energy Storage secures multi-GWh utility-scale ESS contracts outside China (Feb 2025) BYD expands Blade Battery production capacity to support new global EV platform launches (Mar 2025) Introduction of next-gen C&I BESS, the Chess Plus (Apr 2025) BYD continues international EV market share gains, driving internal battery demand growth (Nov 2025)

Top level numbers: BYD’s total battery manufacturing capacity exceeded 400 GWh globally in 2025, split between internal EV consumption and third-party EV and ESS customers. The company remains one of the largest global producers of LFP batteries, with expansion plans focused on vertically integrated growth rather than merchant cell sales alone.

Companies are generally shifting their focus from EVs to a broader portfolio that includes energy storage. Source: Company announcements

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