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Panasonic targets breakthrough EV battery within two years

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Panasonic (6752.T) said it aims to develop a new type of higher-capacity battery in about two years, a potential game-changer for electric vehicles and a boost for key customer Tesla (TSLA.O).

The Japanese company is working on an anode-free design that could deliver what it calls a “world-leading level” of energy density by the end of 2027. If successful, the innovation would increase battery capacity by about 25%, extending the range of Tesla’s Model Y by nearly 90 miles (145 km) without enlarging the pack.

Alternatively, Panasonic could use the technology to create lighter, potentially cheaper batteries that maintain current driving ranges with smaller packs. A company executive discussed the project ahead of a Thursday presentation by Shoichiro Watanabe, chief technology officer at Panasonic Energy.

The design removes the anode during manufacturing. Instead, a lithium metal anode forms inside the cell after its first charge, freeing up space for more cathode materials—nickel, cobalt, and aluminum—that boost capacity without increasing size. Panasonic also aims to cut the proportion of costly nickel.

While several global battery producers are pursuing similar technology, Panasonic stressed its version could deliver industry-leading performance. The company declined to provide details on manufacturing costs or whether the advance would allow Tesla to lower vehicle prices.

The push comes as Tesla faces growing competition. Reuters reported earlier this month that Tesla’s U.S. market share fell to its lowest in almost eight years in August, pressured by a flood of rival EV offerings and its aging product lineup.

CATL to Begin Production at $8.5B Hungarian Battery Plant by Early 2026

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CATL, the world’s largest electric vehicle battery maker, expects to begin production at its new €7.3 billion ($8.55 billion) plant in Debrecen, Hungary by early 2026, according to its Europe general manager Matt Shen. The timeline marks a slight delay from initial plans to start operations by the end of 2025.

The Debrecen facility will become CATL’s largest European site, with an annual capacity of 100 GWh—enough to power millions of EVs—and a workforce of about 9,000 people. It will significantly overshadow the company’s existing factory in Thuringia, Germany, and supply automakers including BMW, Stellantis, and Volkswagen.

Shen told Reuters that production is now targeted to start “at the end of this year or beginning of the next year, so the next four, five months.” CATL is among several Chinese battery giants presenting at the IAA Mobility show in Munich, as European carmakers face growing pressure from Chinese competition in the EV transition.

Despite signs of sluggish EV demand in Europe, CATL remains bullish. The company increased its global market share to 38% in 2024, up from 36% the previous year, according to SNE Research. It also raised $4.6 billion in a Hong Kong listing in May to help finance the Hungarian project.

“There are always some fluctuations,” Shen said. “For the overall trend, there is no doubt about that.”

CATL’s Soaring Hong Kong Debut Signals Renewed Optimism for Chinese Fundraising

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Chinese EV battery giant CATL surged 16.4% on its Hong Kong trading debut, raising $4.6 billion in the world’s largest listing of 2025 so far, and signaling strong international investor appetite for Chinese equities. The successful listing has significantly boosted expectations for other Chinese companies seeking to raise capital in Hong Kong.

CATL shares, listed at HK$263, closed at HK$306.20 on Tuesday, outperforming the Hang Seng Index’s 1.5% rise. At peak trading, the stock hit HK$311.40. The offering was met with overwhelming demand, with the retail tranche oversubscribed by 151 times and the institutional tranche by over 15 times.

This robust debut came despite global market uncertainties, a slowing Chinese economy, and CATL’s inclusion earlier this year on a U.S. Department of Defense list over alleged military ties — a claim CATL has refuted in its prospectus, noting it was cooperating with the U.S. authorities to address the “false designation.”

Strong interest from global investors — including Americans with offshore accounts — underscores growing confidence in Chinese companies, even amid ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions. CATL’s listing gained additional momentum as it coincided with a 90-day U.S.-China trade truce announced on May 12, the same day the company began bookbuilding.

The company, which holds a 38% global market share in EV batteries, plans to use much of the funds to build a major battery factory in Hungary. This facility will support European automakers such as BMW, Stellantis, and Volkswagen as part of CATL’s international expansion.

The deal brought Hong Kong’s total equity fundraising for 2025 to $7.73 billion, far surpassing the $1.05 billion raised by this time last year. According to Bonnie Chan, CEO of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, over 40 mainland-listed A-share firms are considering Hong Kong listings, citing access to offshore capital for global expansion.

CICC, JPMorgan, Bank of America, and China Securities International sponsored the offering, which could grow to $5.3 billion if the green shoe option is fully exercised — making it the largest Hong Kong IPO since Kuaishou’s $6.2 billion debut in 2021.