CATL began trial production on Sept. 22, 2026, at its newly built battery cell factory in Debrecen, Hungary, after fulfilling all requirements for the trial run. The initial phase covers the first two production lines and is intended to set up, optimize and validate equipment and manufacturing processes before series production. The company received its occupancy permit in August 2026 and completed the relevant permitting and IPPC (integrated pollution prevention and control) requirements. The Hajdú-Bihar County Government Office conducted regular inspections before the permit was issued and confirmed that CATL had addressed deficiencies identified earlier in the permitting process. CATL has manufactured battery modules in Debrecen since autumn 2024, producing 537,000 modules. Once complete, the site is planned to become CATL's largest manufacturing base outside China, with 100 GWh of capacity, supplying European automakers and supporting Hungary's electric-mobility supply chain. The company said employee health, safety and environmental conditions will be monitored during trial operations, with results submitted proactively to authorities.