{
  "id": 3870874,
  "title": "Chinese battery giant CATL spreads investments in search of new growth drivers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/chinese-battery-giant-catl-spreads-investments-in-search-of-new",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-28T02:00:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SCMP Business",
    "slug": "scmp-business",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3365515/chinese-battery-giant-catl-spreads-investments-search-new-growth-drivers"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chinese battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL) is diversifying its investments to seek new growth opportunities beyond electric vehicles (EVs), according to analysts. Since last June, CATL has made at least seven equity investments worth over 17 billion yuan (US$2.5 billion) in non-battery industries, including humanoid robots, state-owned hydropower stations, artificial intelligence data centres (AIDCs), and a large-language-model developer named DeepSeek.\n\nIn a commentary, Yang Jing of Fitch Ratings explained that CATL's strategic investments in these sectors are aimed at maintaining its market share and margins as a leading incumbent. She added that AI data centres, with their high-growth and high-barrier characteristics, could serve as a \"third growth curve\" akin to EVs and energy storage systems.\n\nCATL, the world's largest producer of lithium-ion batteries for EVs and storage systems, faces challenges such as weakening demand for electric cars in China and increased competition from mainland rivals for overseas energy storage orders. However, CATL's investments in AIDCs and related energy storage demand may help it secure its position in the post-EV era.\n\nNasdaq-listed VNET Group, a Chinese provider of neutral AIDCs, recently announced that two CATL-affiliates would acquire up to a 38.1% stake in the company for US$942 million. Meanwhile, Hangzhou Zhonhen Electric, a supplier of power supply systems for AIDCs and vehicle charging, plans to sell a 49% stake in the business to CATL for 4.09 billion yuan.\n\nIn June, CATL committed 5 billion yuan in the latest fundraising round by AI company DeepSeek. The company also led a 1.1 billion yuan fundraising round for Beijing-based robot start-up Galbot in June of the previous year. CATL's involvement in humanoid robotics could potentially lead to the development of next-generation batteries to meet future demand growth.",
  "summary": "From data centres to hydropower stations, Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL) is placing investment bets on prospective growth engines following the electric vehicle (EVs) boom, according to analysts. Since June last year, at least seven CATL-led equity deals involving a total of over 17 billion yuan (US$2.5 billion) have been announced in non-battery industries.…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}