CATL and BYD captured over half of global EV battery market in 2026

Chinese traction battery manufacturers for electric vehicles continue to rapidly expand their presence on the global stage. According to the results of the first three quarters of 2026, companies from China captured more than half of the overseas market, demonstrating record supply figures and outpacing the general growth rate of the global industry.

• During January — September 2026, the six largest Chinese manufacturers installed batteries with a total capacity of 426.7 GWh outside of China.
• Total supplies from Chinese companies increased by 24.7%, while the entire global market showed a growth of 19.7%.
• The share of Chinese brands in the overseas market reached 56.4%, confirming their dominance in the EV sector.
• Industry giants CATL and BYD, as well as fast-growing second-tier players, drove this massive expansion.

CATL leadership and rapid surge of BYD

CATL remains the largest supplier outside of China, ensuring the installation of 143.7 GWh of batteries during the reporting period. Compared to the same period last year, its figures increased by 46.7%, and its share of the foreign market reached an impressive 33.7%. These results keep the company well ahead of most international competitors.

At the same time, BYD securely took third place in global supplies outside of China with a result of 45.9 GWh and a market share of 10.8%. Notably, the company's supplies jumped by 66.8%, driven by the active export of its own electric vehicles to foreign markets, strengthening its global automotive footprint.

Successes of second-tier manufacturers

In addition to recognized giants, other Chinese battery makers demonstrated impressive dynamics. Second-tier companies showed triple-digit growth rates, actively winning market share from traditional South Korean and Japanese competitors. This indicates a large-scale diversification of supplies and high demand for Chinese technologies abroad.

Specifically, Eve Energy saw its supplies surge by 214.6% to 9.5 GWh. Gotion High-Tech increased its figures by 153.8% to 17.6 GWh, Svolt grew by 102.3% to 13.1 GWh, and CALB expanded by 88.5% to 10.6 GWh. Such fierce competition reinforces China's position as the primary energy solution provider for electric transport.

What this means for the global automotive industry

The dominance of Chinese batteries in the global market is fundamentally reshaping the balance of power in the automotive industry. Automakers worldwide are increasingly dependent on supplies from China, prompting governments in the US, Europe, and other regions to invest billions in domestic battery manufacturing plants.

For developing markets and emerging economies where electric vehicle infrastructure is rapidly growing, this shift provides access to more affordable and technologically advanced batteries. The expansion of exports of accessible Chinese EVs and components makes ecological transport more available to regular consumers globally.