Debrecen has scaled in stages. Construction began in 2023, and module assembly started in autumn 2024, using cells imported from China. The plant has supplied 537,000 modules to customers so far. Cell equipment installation finished in Q2 2026, the cell building received its occupancy permit in August, and trial production began on the first two lines on 22 September 2026. Reports put the first phase at about 34 GWh, out of the full 100 GWh build-out. CATL has not given a date for series production. A June 2026 Automobilwoche report said the project was running behind schedule and that BMW's cell supply from Hungary was not expected before 2027.
| Metric | LFP (Shenxing-class platform) | NMC (Qilin-class platform) |
|---|---|---|
| Cell format | Large-format prismatic | Large-format prismatic, cell-to-pack integration |
| Cell energy density | ~160–205 Wh/kg | ~250–300 Wh/kg |
| Fast-charge capability | 4C class; ~10 minutes for 400 km of range (CATL figure) | Up to 4C class |
| Range target | Mainstream and volume segments | 750 km+; CATL quotes up to 1,000 km |
| Cost and materials | Cobalt- and nickel-free; lower €/kWh | Higher nickel exposure; premium pricing |
| Debrecen off-takers | Not disclosed by CATL; regional customers include Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen Group and Stellantis | |
The chemistry split follows the market. LFP serves volume vehicles where cost, cycle life and thermal stability matter most, and CATL's Shenxing platform uses an optimised thermal layout to support 4C charging. NMC serves premium and long-range models where energy density decides range. CATL has not published which formats and dimensions each Debrecen line will produce; the figures above are CATL's platform-level specifications.
Location is the strategic asset. The megasite sits next to BMW's Debrecen Neue Klasse plant, within reach of Mercedes-Benz in Kecskemét and Audi in Győr, and serves a European customer base that includes Stellantis. Local cell supply cuts logistics risk, protects against tariff exposure and supports EU content requirements. For supply chain specifiers and investors, the key milestone is the move from trial runs to qualified series cells in 2027.