China’s CATL officially opened a new battery storage testing facility in Xiamen on August 13, 2026. Spanning 10 hectares, the site aims to improve battery safety and reliability by conducting tests under more severe conditions than previously possible [1, 2].
The facility cost about 3 billion yuan (approximately US$440 million) and is now the world’s largest battery storage testing site [1, 2]. It will be accessible to the entire battery industry, offering a broad platform for testing and validation [2].
CATL currently holds nearly 40% of the global electric vehicle battery market, cementing its position as a dominant player [2]. The company’s new facility is expected to help Chinese battery products meet the higher safety and technical standards required by Western grid regulators, facilitating overseas market expansion [2].
Chen Xiaobo, head of the Electrical Storage Validation Lab (ESVL) at CATL, said, "If the products of domestic integrators expanding overseas can perform well in quality, reliability, safety and connection with local grids [at ESVL], I believe this will rapidly enhance their overall competitiveness" [2].
The testing center will enable more rigorous validation of battery technologies, supporting industry-wide efforts to boost product safety and grid compatibility.
The Xiamen facility’s launch marks a key step in strengthening battery innovation and international market access for Chinese suppliers. It began operations on August 13, 2026 [1, 2].
