Power Play: CATL Driving China's Foreign Policy In SE Asia

2025-08-27 01:06:55

(MENAFN- Asia Times) China's battery-making titan CATL is transforming electric vehicle batteries from mere commodities into strategic tools of foreign policy across the Asia-Pacific.

Backed by massive investments spanning Southeast Asia's entire battery value chain-from raw materials to recycling-CATL has extended its influence in line with Beijing's global industrial ambitions.

The critical question for ASEAN and regional players is whether CATL will serve as a foundation for industrial sovereignty and sustainable growth, or instead deepen economic dependence on Chinese capital and technology?

Many analysts argue that CATL's rise is not just about batteries-it's about who will control the green energy architecture of the 21st century.

As of the first half of 2025, CATL retained its global lead in the electric vehicle battery sector, commanding a 37.9% market share (190.9 GWh out of 504.4 GWh in global installations). This puts it well ahead of competitors like BYD (17.8%) and LG Energy Solution (approximately 9–10%).

Some reports place CATL's share even higher, at 38.1% between January and May. Japanese and Korean firms such as Panasonic and Samsung SDI, along with newer European battery makers, continue to trail with only single-digit market shares.

CATL's competitive edge lies not only in its scale but also in its technological leadership-most notably in innovations like cell-to-pack architecture, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, and ultra-fast charging, enabling up to 320 miles of range in just five minutes.

These advances position CATL not merely as a supplier, but as a global standard-setter in the emerging green energy order. In June and July 2025, CATL broke ground on a US$6 billion“Indonesia Battery Integration Project” spanning West Java (Karawang) and North Maluku.

MENAFN27082025000159011032ID1109980813

Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.