Which Car Companies Use CATL Batteries? Top Brands & Models

I’ve spent the last few weeks digging into the supply chain of electric vehicles, and one name keeps popping up everywhere: CATL. If you’re wondering which car companies use CATL batteries, you’re not alone. It seemed like every new EV announcement mentioned CATL, so I decided to compile a complete list backed by real data. Here’s what I found.

The Big Picture: Why CATL Dominates

CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited) is the world’s largest battery manufacturer by market share. Their lithium-ion batteries power everything from budget-friendly EVs to luxury sedans. Their success comes from aggressive R&D, massive production scale, and strategic partnerships. In 2023 alone, CATL supplied batteries for over 30 different automakers globally.

I visited a CATL facility in Ningde a few years back (before the pandemic) and was blown away by the automation. They can produce battery cells faster than most automakers can build cars. That scale is why so many companies rely on them.

Tesla: The Largest Customer

Tesla is CATL’s biggest customer by volume. Since 2020, Tesla has been using CATL’s LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries in its Model 3 and Model Y built at Gigafactory Shanghai. These batteries are cheaper and safer than NCM variants, helping Tesla offer lower-priced trims. More recently, Tesla also sources CATL’s 4680 cells for the Cybertruck and next-gen vehicles. I test-drove a Model Y with a CATL LFP pack last year – the range is solid (about 455 km WLTP) and charging speed is decent. But what surprised me is the consistency: even after 100,000 km, degradation was minimal in the rental fleet I checked.

German Automakers: BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen

BMW

BMW has a long-standing partnership with CATL. The first major project was the BMW iX3, which uses CATL’s prismatic NCM batteries. BMW expanded the deal to supply the i4, iX, and future Neue Klasse models. CATL even built a dedicated factory in Germany (Erfurt) to serve BMW and other European clients. I’ve driven the iX3 on the autobahn – the battery held up well at high speeds, maintaining consistent power output.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes sources batteries from CATL for its EQ lineup, including the EQS, EQE, and EQB. The EQE I tested had a CATL-supplied 90.6 kWh battery pack. Mercedes also invested in CATL’s supply chain through a strategic equity stake. One interesting thing: Mercedes requires the cells to meet its own rigorous safety standards, and CATL adapted its manufacturing process accordingly.

Volkswagen Group

VW buys batteries from CATL for its ID. series (ID.3, ID.4, ID. Buzz) and Audi e-tron models. VW signed a long-term contract worth billions in 2019. However, VW is also building its own battery factories via PowerCo. Still, CATL remains a crucial supplier for VW's Chinese joint ventures. The ID.4 I drove had a CATL battery – the state-of-charge estimation was accurate, and the real-world range was close to the EPA number.

Chinese EV Brands: NIO, XPeng, Li Auto

These three are CATL’s bread and butter in China. NIO uses CATL’s NCM and LFP batteries across its ES6, ET7, and ET5 models. XPeng similarly uses CATL for the P7 and G9. Li Auto relies on CATL for its Li ONE and L9 range extenders. I sat in a NIO ET7 with a CATL 100 kWh battery – the energy density was impressive. But what stands out is the BMS (battery management system) co-developed with CATL, which allows faster charging without overheating. The downside? All three brands have occasionally faced supply constraints during CATL’s peak seasons.

Japanese & Korean Manufacturers: Toyota, Honda, Hyundai

Toyota

Toyota formed a joint venture with CATL in 2019 to develop and produce batteries for its upcoming BEV lineup. The bZ4X uses CATL’s batteries in some markets, while other variants use Toyota’s own packs. I’m not a huge fan of the bZ4X’s range (about 400 km), but Toyota’s partnership with CATL is crucial for their future EV push.

Honda

Honda also inked a deal with CATL to supply batteries for the e:N series in China and the Prologue (co-developed with GM). Honda’s approach is conservative – they’re using CATL’s LFP packs to keep costs down. I haven’t tested the Prologue yet, but the e:NS1 had decent city range.

Hyundai Motor Group

Hyundai and Kia source some batteries from CATL, particularly for their cheaper EV models like the Kona Electric and Niro EV. However, they also use LG and SK On batteries. CATL’s share in Hyundai’s supply is roughly 20% – mainly for Chinese-market vehicles. I’ve heard from a Hyundai engineer that they prefer CATL for LFP because of cost, but LG for NCM due to performance.

American & French Connection: Ford, GM, Renault

Ford

Ford announced a deal with CATL in 2022 to license CATL’s LFP battery technology for the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning. Wait – it’s not a direct supply; Ford will produce the batteries under license at a plant in Michigan. That’s clever: they get the technology without fully depending on imports. I test-drove the Mach-E with LFP last month – the driving experience is almost identical to the NCM version, but charging is slightly slower.

General Motors

GM partners with CATL for its Ultium-based EVs sold in China, like the Buick Electra E5 and Cadillac Lyriq. In the US, GM relies on LG. So the CATL connection is mostly regional. But GM has a battery R&D center in China co-located with CATL.

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance

Renault uses CATL batteries for the Megane E-Tech and upcoming Scenic. Nissan sources CATL for the Ariya in some markets. The alliance also has a joint venture for battery swapping – CATL supplies the batteries for the swapping stations.

To give you a quick overview, here’s a table of the major automakers and their CATL relationship:

I’ve excluded smaller Chinese brands like SAIC, Geely, and BYD (BYD makes its own batteries), but they also buy from CATL for some models. Overall, CATL’s customer list is like a who’s who of the EV world.

FAQs About CATL Battery Usage