As China’s electric vehicle giant CATL sets a record-breaking IPO, its visionary leader Robin Zeng is poised to revolutionize the world’s clean energy landscape.
Building a Global Empire: The Rise of CATL Under Robin Zeng
From humble beginnings in a rural village in Fujian to becoming one of the world’s most powerful electric vehicle battery makers, ‘Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd.’ (CATL) has built an unprecedented empire under its founder and chairperson, ‘Robin Yuqun Zeng’.
CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited) is a Chinese lithium-ion battery manufacturer founded in 2011.
Headquartered in Ningde, China, CATL has become one of the world's largest battery suppliers for electric vehicles.
The company's products include power batteries, energy storage batteries, and charging systems.
With over 30% market share, CATL supplies batteries to major automakers such as BMW, 'Volkswagen' , and Tesla.
Its innovative technologies have improved battery efficiency, safety, and lifespan.
A Life of Ambition and Risk
Born in 1968 in Ningde, Fujian province, into abject poverty, Zeng‘s strong student spirit and big ambitions led him to Shanghai Jiaotong University, one of China’s top institutions. After graduating with a degree in shipbuilding, he took a job at a state-owned enterprise but quit just three months later to pursue greater career mobility in Dongguan. His decision proved lucrative as he joined SAE Magnetics and rose quickly through the ranks.
From Consumer Electronics to Electric Vehicles
In 1999, Zeng co-founded ‘Amperex Technology Limited’ (ATL), which produced lithium batteries for consumer electronics, including the ‘iPhone’. The partnership with Apple led to ATL‘s success, but Zeng also pursued a Ph.D. in condensed matter physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. After being acquired by Japan’s TDK in 2005, Zeng spun off his electric vehicle battery division into CATL in 2012.
The Rise of CATL
Headquartered in Ningde, ‘Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd.’ (CATL) earned $1.91 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2025 alone, marking a 33 percent year-over-year increase. Its Chinese name, ‘宁德时代’ (Ningde’s Era), reflects Zeng‘s deep ties to his birthplace and mission to bring prosperity to the region. With its massive new battery plant in Hungary aimed at supplying major European automakers, CATL is making its next move clear: Europe.
A Visionary Leader
Zeng has often been described as a gambler, having taken three major risks in his life: quitting his first job, founding ATL and later launching CATL. Building the company wasn’t easy, with fierce competition and securing raw materials being significant challenges. However, ‘Zeng’s vision to replace all fossil fuel-powered products with clean electric alternatives’ has driven CATL‘s success.
Global Expansion Amid Challenges
The company’s expansion into Europe comes at a critical moment. Chinese EV makers like ‘BYD‘ are also targeting the region, U.S.-China tensions are escalating, and the Trump administration has imposed 25 percent tariffs on Chinese auto imports. Despite these challenges, investor confidence remains strong, with CATL‘s Hong Kong debut seeing shares jump over 16 percent.
CATL‘s listing on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange has also been buoyed by global investor enthusiasm, with its stock reversing early losses following the Hong Kong surge. As the world shifts towards clean energy solutions, ‘CATL is poised to play a significant role in the transition.’
