Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), a China-based manufacturer of battery products, has opened its first North American sales and service facility. The new Detroit base is CATL’s fourth international site, following the opening of a Japanese subsidiary in May.

CATL already supplies the North American market with core battery technologies for EVs and energy storage applications. The company has entered a series of partnership agreements with automakers including BMW, Volkswagen, Daimler and Jaguar.

CATL say its battery systems have achieved an energy density of 160 Wh/kg, and are continuously improving. By 2020, the company expects to achieve cell-level energy density of 300 Wh/kg and system-level energy density of 240 Wh/kg. CATL’s long-life endurance battery boasts a lifespan of up to 15,000 cycles, and needs no lithium titanate material, which CATL says reduces life-cycle costs. CATL subjects its products to over 270 abuse tests, including active and passive protection tests.

“Recent surges in EV demand require greater innovation in the manufacture and supply of parts and services to support vehicle electrification,” said Allan Wang, General Manager, North America at CATL. “Our new Detroit subsidiary will allow us to serve local needs. By locating close to our customers, we will be able to better understand their needs and improve our global supply chain. We look forward to providing more tailored customer service to our US-based partners, and are continuously looking for new partnerships and opportunities in the local market.”

Source: Contemporary Amperex Technology