The Chinese battery manufacturer CATL is increasingly focusing on its location in Thuringia and is significantly expanding its plans to build a battery factory in Arnstadt near Erfurt. The Group has now announced that it intends to invest € 1.8 billion instead of the previously planned € 240 million; the planned number of jobs shall rise from 600 to 2,000. CATL described its deeper engagement as "building a European production, research and development location" in Thuringia. 14 gigawatt hours will be the capacity in the initial phase, this will be expanded until 2026. According to group sources, the reason for the considerable increase of the planned investment sum by 7.5 times is the rapidly growing demand for e-car batteries from Europe.
In July 2018, CATL announced that it will build its first European manufacturing facility in the industrial estate "Erfurter Kreuz" owned by LEG. The investment project will be implemented on a 70 hectare site, thus creating Europe's largest location for the production of battery cells. In addition to production, the facility will also host a research and development center. Initial recruitment of staff has already taken place. The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for autumn 2019.
LEG is accompanying CATL throughout the project implementation process and beyond with its comprehensive range of services.
