Source: Gasgoo
According to Bloomberg, Chinese electric vehicle battery maker Ningde Times is in talks to set up a battery recycling business in Europe, a move that would expand its presence in Europe as the company prepares to start battery production in Hungary.
Jason Chen, head of regional operations for Ningde Times, said the company is in discussions with European governments, including Hungary, about possible sites for its battery recycling business. Jason Chen revealed in an interview that the battery manufacturing plant in Hungary is expected to be put into production in the second half of 2025. “Now that we have built a factory here, we hope to also create a closed loop from battery manufacturing to recycling.”
Chen also revealed that Ningde Times is currently looking for local suppliers, including raw material suppliers. Some companies have already sent in test samples, but these talks are preliminary and must meet competitive requirements.
Image Source: CATL
Like other Chinese companies, after gaining a foothold in the Chinese market, Ningde Times also sees the growth potential of the European electric vehicle market. Localizing production and sourcing in the region would help address European concerns about the threat to jobs posed by the dominance of Chinese companies.
The establishment of a local recycling operation will also help Ningde Times mitigate the environmental problems associated with battery production and disposal. Chen revealed that local companies in Europe as well as Guangdong Bangpu Recycling Technology Co., LTD., a subsidiary of Ningde Times, are potential partners in the project.
For now, although automakers including Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz Group have delayed the speed of the transition to electric vehicles, Chen is not worried about the phenomenon. “So far we haven’t seen much of an impact. We are not dependent on a single customer, and electrification is an irreversible trend.”
The company’s factory in Debrecen, Hungary, located about 2.5 hours from Budapest, is the largest greenfield investment in Hungary. The first phase of the plant aims to reach an annual capacity of 40 GWh and then expand to 100 GWh, enough to power more than 1 million vehicles.
Chen revealed that Ningde Times Hungary aims to employ 2,000 to 3,000 people in the first phase and recruit as many locals as possible. Another plant in Germany has opened in 2022 and employs around 1,700 people.
In April, CATL also signed a memorandum of understanding with Volvo Cars to cooperate on battery recycling.
