CATL Chairman and CEO Dr. Robin Zeng said quality should remain the central focus of the new energy vehicle and power battery industry, citing rapid market growth alongside rising concerns over product reliability. He noted that in the first half of the year, new energy vehicle sales in China exceeded 7.4 million units, accounting for nearly half of all vehicle sales in the country. He also said global power battery installations surpassed 608 GWh, with Chinese companies taking seven of the top ten spots and more than 70% of the market share.
Zeng warned that intense competition on speed, specifications, and price is shortening development cycles and, in some cases, affecting product quality and consumer trust. He said quality must be treated as the most important priority in the industry.
Describing what he called “The CATL Standard,” Zeng said it is built on three core principles: safety, reliability, and longevity. He emphasized that quality must be designed and manufactured into a product rather than added through later inspection. According to Zeng, the company focuses on identifying and controlling risks early in the design phase, including material selection, cell architecture, and system design, while also maintaining strict control over manufacturing processes and parameters.
Zeng highlighted examples of long-term performance, including a battery pack shown at this year’s Beijing Auto Show that has logged 6 years and 840,000 kilometers while retaining 88% of its capacity. He also pointed to CATL’s Zhangbei Energy Storage Project, which has operated safely for 14 years and retained more than 80% capacity after 9 years of service.
He said CATL uses AI to help shift quality management from reacting to problems after they occur to identifying anomalies in advance. He also said the company established what it describes as the industry’s first and only "Adversarial Team," made up of experts from fields including electrochemistry, mechanical engineering, and artificial intelligence, with independent veto authority.
Zeng added that CATL will launch its first "The CATL Standard Global Open Month" in September, with activities scheduled at its headquarters in Ningde and across its production bases.
Source: CATL
