Exclusive: CATL Founder Upbeat About Ford Battery Plant Tie-Up, EVs Future in China

However, the battery giant faces problems, including EU regulatory issues and the difficulty of commercializing solid-state batteries, Zeng Yuqun tells Caixin

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Contemporary Amperex Technology Chairman Robin Zeng Yuqun speaks during a panel discussion on Jan. 18 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Photo: VCG

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The 56-year-old founder and chairman of the world’s top electric vehicle (EV) battery-maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) struck an upbeat note in a recent exclusive interview with Caixin, saying that construction work on the company’s $3.5 billion U.S. plant with Ford is “progressing smoothly” and that the prospects for EVs in China are ever brighter.

However, he also acknowledged the challenges the Fujian province-based giant faces, including regulatory challenges in Europe and the difficulty of commercializing solid-state batteries, a technology that could bring an end to the “range anxiety” that wards off some potential EV buyers.