Can CATL’s battery breakthrough push flying cars closer to a commercial reality in China?

World’s top EV battery maker says aviation pack is ready for mass production after clearing a major safety test

A successful roll-out of passenger-carrying drone batteries, backed by CATL’s innovation drive and manufacturing heft, would bolster China’s leading position in the renewable energy sector and the future of mobility, according to analysts.

“The aviation battery system is ready for mass production and will be first applied to our Autoflight flying vehicles,” CATL said in a statement on Sunday. “We will work with our partners and relevant research institutions to continuously overcome technical challenges and build safe and reliable products for drone makers and users.”

During a plant visit by Hong Kong media outlets last week, CATL, based in Ningde, in China’s southeast province of Fujian, said it was determined to expand energy solutions across transport modes from cars and trucks to ships and aircraft.

Davis Zhang, a senior executive at Suzhou Hazardtex, a supplier of specialised batteries, said CATL was not just a battery manufacturer, but a pioneer in decarbonising the global economy.

“The test is yet another example of how its innovations redraw the business landscapes,” Zhang said.