On September 29, 2024, a fire incident occurred at the battery production facility of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) in Ningde, Fujian province, China. The company, which holds the position of the world's largest manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries, has reported that the impact on its overall operations is expected to be minimal.
CATL, founded in 2011 and headquartered in Ningde, stated that a "relatively small" number of products were affected by the fire. The company emphasized that there were no casualties resulting from the incident, which took place at noon on Sunday. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
"The product volume affected is relatively small, and the impact to CATL's overall production operation is relatively small."
The affected facility, known as the "Z base," is one of CATL's core battery production sites. It is situated approximately 10 minutes away from the company's headquarters and is considered one of their newer and more advanced production lines. Local media reported that the fire was extinguished by 10:20 p.m. on the same day.
CATL has established itself as a key player in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, supplying batteries to major manufacturers such as Tesla, BMW, and Volkswagen. The company's reputation for high product reliability and production yield has been built on unique manufacturing techniques and management practices. In recent years, CATL has been investing heavily in research and development of new battery technologies, including sodium-ion batteries and solid-state batteries.
The incident at CATL's facility comes in the wake of a more severe fire at South Korean lithium battery maker Aricell's plant in June 2024, which resulted in 23 fatalities. That incident was attributed to a rushed production schedule to meet deadlines, despite signs of quality issues.
CATL's commitment to safety and environmental responsibility is evident in its goals to achieve carbon neutrality in its operations by 2025. The company has also been exploring recycling technologies for used batteries and developing battery technologies for extreme weather conditions. As the demand for electric vehicles continues to grow, CATL's ability to maintain production while ensuring safety will be crucial for the industry's development.