It is a great success for the investment location Thuringia. The Chinese battery producer Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. (CATL) – one of the globally leading companies for e-mobility batteries – will build its first factory outside of China in the Industrial Park “Erfurter Kreuz”, south of the capital city of Erfurt.
By 2022, CATL is investing 240 million euros and creating 600 new jobs. The 14-gigawatt-hour plant will focus on automated and intelligent production of batteries. In addition to production, research and development, quality control and highly qualified services will also play a major role.
Thuringia’s central location, good infrastructure at the site, an excellent investor service, know-how thanks to the availability of qualified specialists and the diverse research capacities are among the trump cards that convinced CATL and in the end prevailed in the tough global location competition.
"This important investment decision catapults our state at least into the European league, because this is the first production site for battery cells in Europe," said Thuringia's Minister of Economic Affairs Wolfgang Tiefensee at the signing of the project agreement in early July in the Federal Chancellery in Berlin. He himself had led the investment negotiations in China.
"We are pleased that a world market leader such as CATL is relying on Thuringia to drive forward the further growth of its battery and production technology from here." The company will build its new production facilities at the "Erfurter Kreuz" industrial area, which LEG (State Development Corporation of Thuringia) has successfully developed since 2005.
LEG is actively supporting the settlement project and, with its competent investor service, has played a key role in the positive investment decision.´
About Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd.
Founded in 2011 and publicly listed in 2018, Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. (CATL) develops and manufactures lithium-ion batteries and battery systems for e-mobility as well as energy storage solutions. Main business also covers battery management systems, battery reuse and battery material recycling. CATL ranks as No.1 in the global EV battery industry with a 12 GWh annual shipment in 2017.
By December 31, 2017, CATL has 3,425 employees in R&D which represent 23.28% of the employees at total. CATL has branch offices in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Qinghai, and Foshan in China as well as in Munich and Paris, Japan and USA. For further information, please visit: http://www.catlbattery.com/.
Interview with Dr. Arnulf Wulff, Senior Vice President Investment, International Business and Cluster Promotion, LEG Thüringen
With the construction of a battery cell factory by the Chinese investor CATL, the LEG Thüringen has indeed made a big coup.
Yes, this was the starting signal for one of the most important foreign investment projects of the past ten years in Thuringia. At the same time, it is a result of our dedicated work over the last few months to emerge as a winner from the increasing national and international location competition. However, the actual work for the gradual implementation has just begun.
Has the business location of Thuringia become more interesting for foreign investors in recent years?
In recent years the share of foreign investors, especially from the high-tech industries, which want to get involved in the Free State, has increased continuously and is now over 50%, thus reaching a peak. At the same time, this proves the increasing attractiveness of Thuringia as a business and technology location.
Where do you see the reasons for this development in Thuringia as a hotspot for investors?
In addition to its excellent location in Germany and Europe, Thuringia on the one hand possesses state-of-the-art infrastructure, a diversified industry structure, skilled workers, renowned academic and scientific institutions and offers a high quality of life. The availability of attractive industrial space that meets even the most demanding requirements plays an important role, too.
On the other hand, as a full-service agency, LEG Thüringen offers competent services for investors: from economic and industry analyzes, tailor-made location offers to financing and subsidy packages, public authority management and the matching with Thuringian cooperation or R&D partners. At the same time, LEG Thüringen provides highly suitable industrial sites, all under one roof!
