CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology), the leading Chinese manufacturer of batteries with a 45% share of the world market, has had a subsidiary in Germany since 2014 and two factories in Arnstadt/Thuringia since 2022, in addition to many other countries.
On a total area of about 700 ha, battery cells are produced there in chemical processes, these cells are then assembled to batteries, modules and finally so-called racks are assembled from them for all kinds of electrically powered vehicles. In Germany, all vehicle manufacturers that have electric vehicles in their production program, whether AUDI, BMW, FORD, MERCEDES, Opel, Porsche or VW etc., are customers of CATL.
CATL, whose headquarter is located in Ningde/Fujian and which was only officially founded in 2011 and emerged from the ATL company, now has more than 20 subsidiaries, R&D centers and production facilities worldwide. Two of the largest factories are located in Debrecen/Hungary and Arnstadt/Thuringia. The production program includes stationary electric storage systems, which are mainly produced in China due to lower costs, and batteries for all types of electric transport systems for cars, trucks, special vehicles, etc. Well over 1000 people are employed in Arnstadt, coming from over 20 countries.
CATL is urgently looking for skilled workers in all fields for both the German and the Hungarian site.
During the visit of the two professors Holger Haldenwang and Doris Ding it was agreed that advertising for internships and permanent positions at CATL should be made at SZTU in the engineering as well as the social and business faculties. However, it was pointed out by the CATL interlocutors Wenpei Lin and Xiyung Song that the interested parties should have good English language skills and also be open minded.
At the same time, a cooperation agreement with CATL in Guangzhou is also envisaged and a visit with the deans Peigang Han and Franz Raps in Guangzhou in the fall is envisaged.
Website: www.CATL.com
Regensburg, 16. August 2023
Holger Haldenwang
