Top 10 EV Battery Makers: CATL’s 45% Share, Samsung’s $3 B GM JV, and 1, 187 GWh Installed (2024-2026)

The global electric vehicle (EV) battery market is rapidly consolidating, with Chinese manufacturers such as CATL and BYD significantly extending their lead at the expense of South Korean and Japanese competitors. Analysis of market data from 2024 through early 2026 reveals that CATL‘s market share surged to a commanding 45.2% in January 2026, a substantial increase from 38.0% in 2024. In contrast, legacy players like LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and Panasonic are experiencing considerable market share erosion. The dominant theme for 2025 was an aggressive price war initiated by Chinese firms, coupled with the widespread adoption of lower-cost LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery chemistry, which has fundamentally reshaped market dynamics and compressed competitor margins.

Key Industry Developments and Plant Announcements

Recent strategic moves, including new plants and joint ventures, underscore the fierce competition and massive capital investments defining the EV battery sector.

1. CATL Secures Major Supply Agreements

Company: CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited)
Details: Secured and expanded supply deals with major automakers, fueling its significant market share growth. Installed capacity grew 35.7% year-over-year in 2025 to reach 464.7 GWh.
Applications: Supplying batteries to key EV models from partners including ZEEKR, AITO, and Li Auto.
Source: How CATL’s 2025 Financial Record and Chemistry Strategy Could …

2. LGES and Hyundai Launch Indonesian Production

Company: LG Energy Solution & Hyundai
Details: A joint venture battery plant located in Indonesia began production in 2024 as part of a strategy to build a regional EV supply chain.
Applications: Manufacturing battery cells for Hyundai and Kia electric vehicles.
Source: Startups and slowdowns in EV and battery plans – S&P Global

3. Panasonic Invests $4 Billion in Kansas Facility

Company: Panasonic
Details: Investing $4 billion in a new battery manufacturing facility in Kansas, USA. The plant is set to become operational by 2026.
Capacity: Projected to deliver over 30 GWh of battery capacity annually.
Source: Electric Vehicle Battery Market Size to Worth USD 661.98 Billion by …

4. Gotion High-tech Plans Massive Morocco Factory

Company: Gotion High-tech
Details: The company is planning a potential giga-factory in Morocco with an investment of up to $6.3 billion.
Capacity: Targeting a production capacity of 100 GWh annually.
Applications: International expansion to supply European and other regional markets.
Source: Top 19 Lithium Ion Battery Manufacturer in 2026

5. Samsung SDI and GM Form $3 Billion Indiana JV

Company: Samsung SDI & General Motors (GM)
Details: The two companies are forming a joint venture to build a battery plant in Indiana, with a total investment exceeding $3 billion.
Applications: Supplying high-performance battery cells for future GM electric vehicles.
Source: Search | Reshoring Initiative

Table: Recent EV Battery Plant and Partnership Announcements (2024-2026)

$6.3 Billion, Gotion High-tech Plans 100 GWh Morocco Factory

The scale of recent investments indicates that industry adoption has moved beyond simple supply contracts into deep strategic integration. The establishment of massive giga-factories, such as the planned 100 GWh facility by Gotion High-tech in Morocco, signals a commitment to supplying entire regions. Furthermore, the prevalence of joint ventures between battery makers and automotive giants—like Samsung SDI with GM and LG Energy Solution with Hyundai—shows that batteries are now a core component of vehicle design and manufacturing strategy. These partnerships are essential for automakers to secure supply, control costs, and co-develop battery technology tailored to their specific vehicle platforms, marking a mature phase of industry integration.

China’s Market Control, CATL and BYD Exceed 55% Combined Share

The geographic landscape of EV battery production is heavily concentrated in China. By late 2025, Chinese manufacturers collectively controlled a staggering 68.9% of the global market. CATL and BYD alone accounted for a combined 55.6% of the market for the full year. This is a stark contrast to the declining influence of South Korean manufacturers, whose collective share stood at 25.5% in 2025, and Japanese players like Panasonic, who are also ceding ground. In response, non-Chinese companies are pursuing a strategy of regionalization. The new plants announced by Panasonic in Kansas and Samsung SDI in Indiana are clear attempts to build a resilient North American supply chain, partly driven by policy incentives. Similarly, the LGES-Hyundai plant in Indonesia aims to create a production hub outside of China’s immediate sphere of influence.

CATL and BYD Lead Global EV Battery Market

This chart from Jan 2024 directly supports the section’s claim that CATL and BYD have a combined share over 55% (39.7% + 14.4% = 54.1%), illustrating China’s market control.

(Source: Reddit)

EV Battery Chemistry, CATL and BYD Lead LFP Battery Adoption

The recent market shifts reveal a clear maturation in battery technology. The widespread adoption of lower-cost LFP (lithium iron phosphate) chemistry has been a primary driver of the market share gains by CATL and BYD. This technology has proven to be reliable, safe, and cost-effective for mainstream vehicles, moving it from a niche application to a dominant commercial-scale solution. While higher-energy-density chemistries from companies like Samsung SDI and LGES remain critical for premium and long-range EVs, their market is being squeezed by the cost advantages of LFP. The next technological frontier is already emerging with sodium-ion batteries, a technology being pioneered by leaders like CATL. This indicates a strategic shift from simply scaling existing tech to developing next-generation chemistries that could further reduce costs and mitigate reliance on lithium.

CATL’s Future Growth, 45% Market Share and Sodium-Ion Push (2026)

If CATL maintains its aggressive pricing strategy and successfully commercializes next-generation chemistries like sodium-ion, its market share could approach 50% globally, forcing further consolidation among its rivals. The key forward-looking signals support this scenario.

• The leap in CATL‘s market share to 45.2% in January 2026 from a full-year 2025 average of 39.2% indicates its growth is accelerating, not plateauing.
• The price war initiated in 2024, where CATL and BYD reportedly cut battery prices by up to 50%, serves as a clear signal of their willingness to leverage cost to capture market share.
• The continued erosion of market share for major South Korean and Japanese manufacturers suggests their current strategies are insufficient to counter the scale and cost advantages of their Chinese competitors.
• CATL‘s leadership in sodium-ion battery development is a critical indicator of its focus on securing a long-term technological advantage, potentially disrupting the market again by moving beyond lithium dependence.

CATL’s Market Share Surges to 45.2% in Early 2026

This chart is a perfect match, as it visualizes the exact data point mentioned in the text: CATL’s market share reaching 45.2% in January 2026.

(Source: CnEVPost)

The questions your competitors are already asking

This report covers one angle of the EV battery cell competitive landscape. The questions that matter most depend on your work.

• Which EV battery cell companies are gaining or losing ground behind CATL and BYD?
• What is the outlook for LFP battery deployment in the North American EV market by 2028?
• How does LFP battery chemistry compare to high-nickel NMC for cost and performance in mass-market EVs?
• Which automakers are partnering with Samsung SDI for its U.S. battery JVs?

This report does not answer these. Enki Brief Pro does.

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