Chinese EV battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Ltd (CATL) has begun construction of a new plant in Beijing, the company’s first facility in northern China.

Beijing Contemporary Amperex Battery, a joint venture 51% owned by CATL with BAIC Group holding a 39% stake and Xiaomi Auto 5%, broke ground on a 260,000 sq m plot in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area next to Xiaomi Auto's Yizhuang assembly plant.

The first phase was scheduled to be completed in 2026 to supply batteries to automakers BAIC Group, Xiaomi Auto and Li Auto, using high speed, highly automated and flexible production lines.

The joint venture was established after CATL and BAIC recently signed a broad based strategic cooperation agreement covering battery sourcing, battery swapping, V2G (Vehicle to Grid) technologys and development of integrated intelligent chassis for EVs.

CATL is the world’s largest EV battery manufacturer accounting for an estimated 37% of the global market.