According to state news wire MTI, Jason Chen said the investment is “progressing well,” with the production hall structure completed and building installation work underway. He confirmed that production remains on track to start in 2025 as planned.
In response to customer demand, CATL has already started assembling battery modules in a 60,000-square-meter hall it is renting next to the plant site. Chen added that the battery cells for the modules are being supplied from China.
Debrecen’s location, logistics infrastructure, and strong training programs at local educational institutions made the city the “optimal” choice for the investment when CATL made its decision two and a half years ago, Chen said.
He emphasized that production will take place in a closed system and that CATL prioritizes environmental protection. The plant will use adiabatic coolers and graywater, reducing water consumption in the manufacturing process by approximately 50%, he added.
CATL’s plans in Debrecen are long-term, with a horizon extending for decades, Chen said. The company aims to be a valuable member of the local community while contributing to the European Union’s green transition alongside its base in Germany.
PR manager Noémi Sidló said CATL has already hired 400 employees and will participate in 23 job fairs next year.
She noted that CATL has signed strategic cooperation agreements with universities in Debrecen and Miskolc as well as with vocational schools in Debrecen and Berettyóújfalu.
Balázs Szilágyi, CATL Debrecen’s public affairs director, said the company is still searching for a site in Europe for a battery recycling plant.
He added that the workforce at the battery plant in Debrecen will exceed 1,000 by mid-2025 and reach 2,000 by the end of the year. Headcount is expected to climb to 2,600 when the plant reaches full capacity in 2026.
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