Chinese battery dominance grows

Chinese suppliers now account for nearly 75% of the global electric vehicle battery market, up from 69.7% during the same period last year, according to data from SNE Research for January to August 2026.

Global production rises sharply

Worldwide battery production reached 844.2 GWh during the period, a 19.7% increase compared to the same months in 2025, reflecting growing demand for electric vehicles and related technologies.

CATL and BYD lead the market

CATL is the top battery manufacturer, controlling 39.4% of the market with 333 GWh of capacity, a 25% increase from the previous year. BYD follows closely with 15.1% of the market, and together the two companies make up more than half of global battery production.

Other Chinese firms gain ground

Other Chinese battery companies, including CALB, Gotion High-Tech, and Eve Energy, have all seen significant growth, with their production capacities increasing by over 30% in the past year.

South Korean firms see market share drop

LG Energy Solution and Panasonic both lost market share, with LG’s share dropping from 9.6% to 8.1% and Panasonic’s from 4.1% to 3.5%, although both companies still produced more batteries than in the same period last year.

Concerns over Western dependence

The rising influence of Chinese battery manufacturers has sparked concerns among Western automakers about their reliance on Chinese suppliers, with experts warning that such concentration could lead to production issues if a major Chinese firm faces a crisis.