Global demand for clean energy vehicles should intensify the world’s reliance on Chinese suppliers. Clean tech’s latest growth spurt will cost over $10bn — for which Chinese electric vehicle battery and material companies have turned to local investors. Yet some may have ignored the long term, underlying risks these groups carry.
Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), the world’s largest battery maker, kicked off its Rmb45bn ($7bn) private placement last week to expand its production of lithium-ion batteries. At the same time, Tianqi Lithium, one of the world’s top producers of battery materials, will raise as much as $2bn in a secondary listing in Hong Kong. Local peer Huayou Cobalt will raise up to $2.6bn via a private share placement.
The market share of Chinese EV battery producers such as CATL has expanded. Sales have more than doubled in the first four months of this year, accounting for more than half of the world’s supply. Added capital would secure China’s dominance in global clean tech supply chains.