CATL Eyes European Expansion With new Shenxing Pro EV Battery Tech

Ahead of thew IAA Mobility 2025 show happening this week, battery makers CATL launched in Shenxing Pro battery packs made especially for the region.

Ahead of this week’s IAA Mobility 2025 show in Munich, Germany, battery-making giants Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., better known as CATL, introduced two battery variants designed specifically for Europe’s EV market.

Specifically, the firm launched its Shenxing Pro battery tech in two configurations - Shenxing Pro Super Long Life & Long Range Battery, followed by the Shenxing Pro Super-Fast Charging Battery.

Aptly, the battery tech’s naming are self-explanatory - these lithium iron phosphate (LFP) type batteries combine long ranges with either high charging speed or long life.

Dr Lingbo Zhu, CTO of CATL's International Business Unit.

“With uncompromised range, charging, and durability, Shenxing Pro is the ultimate solution for electric mobility in Europe,” touts Dr Lingbo Zhu, CTO of CATL’s International Business Unit, during their launch.

The Long Range boasts up to 758 KM of WLTP range, followed by a claimed 12-year or 1,000,000 KM lifespan. Additionally, CATL adds this pack only has a 9% degradation after the first 200,000 KM – a feat that favours European car-leasing companies.

The Super-Fast Charging version is capable of gaining up to 478 KM of WLTP range via just 10 minutes of charging – roughly 0.8 KM per second. It also can deliver 830 kW even at 20% state of charge (SoC), and comes with a 10-year or 240,000 KM warranty.

At the heart of the Shenxing Pro battery packs is the firm's NP 3.0 system that brings heightened safety and efficiency.

Both packs uses the firm’s proprietary NP 3.0 (Non Propogation 3.0) system. It is  designed to avoid battery fire in case thermal runaway occurs between cells. It also enables the battery to sustain high-voltage supply for over an hour after thermal runaway.

The latter was designed so that the vehicle can maintain its speed and allow the driver to navigate to safety without smoke or fire.

Notably, the Shenxing Pro battery packs are made of Wave cells. Unlike regular battery cells, Wave cells have a raised shoulder and space-sharing design that allow the cooling systems and fixation be applied from any direction.

In turn, based on the technical specs provided by CATL, the Wave cells mentioned also boosts pack stiffness by 25%, as well as achieving 76% pack volume efficiency despite cell-to-body limitations. 

Dr Lingbo Zhu detailing localised production plans for the Shenxing Pro battery packs in Europe.

As for production of these new Shenxing Pro battery packs, CATL is eyeing up to localise them and meet the needs of most European automakers thanks to its “in Europe, for Europe” strategy – mirroring customer Volkswagen (VW) and its “In China for China” move.

Presently, CATL has two European plants operating, with a third coming online soon. The first was opened in Erfurt, Germany back in 2018. The second plant located in Debrecen, Hungary became operation next in 2022.

The third plant was announced last year as a €4.1 billion (RM20.22 billion) joint venture with global automaker Stellantis in Spain, where LFP batteries will be produced. Stellantis is also building a plant for Leapmotor in Spain.

It’s also worth pointing out that CATL currently stands as both CAc market share in China with a 151.71 GWh installed EV battery capacity recorded between Jan and July this year.