Chinese battery manufacturer CATL is set to double its cell testing capacity at its Arnstadt facility in Thuringia, creating one of Europe’s largest battery cell test centers by early 2026, the company confirmed. The expansion will increase the site’s capacity to more than 300 individual test stations, where parameters such as charge rate, performance, and safety are evaluated under a wide range of environmental conditions, including subfreezing temperatures and high heat.
This capacity build-up is part of CATL’s broader European growth strategy. Alongside the Arnstadt expansion, the company plans to add new battery production lines in Hungary and Spain in the coming years. These additional facilities are intended to meet rising demand for advanced energy storage solutions within Europe’s automotive market.
“With the expansion of our test and validation center, CATL is taking an important step towards meeting the growing demand for advanced battery solutions in Europe,” said Matt Shen, Managing Director of Germany.
CATL began producing battery cells in Arnstadt in 2023, and the plant’s output is being ramped up in phases. The site currently employs around 1,700 workers, with headcount expected to grow as production and testing activities scale. By integrating extensive testing capabilities on-site, CATL aims to accelerate validation cycles, ensure product reliability, and adapt cell designs more quickly to European regulatory and performance standards.
The enhanced testing infrastructure will also support investigations into long-term durability and safety under diverse operating scenarios. By simulating real-world conditions in a controlled environment, CATL can refine chemical formulations, battery management system parameters, and thermal management approaches before mass production.
As the electric vehicle industry in Europe continues to expand, the upgraded Arnstadt center positions CATL to play a pivotal role in supplying automakers with high-performance, safe, and reliable battery cells.
Source: Handelsblatt
