After having enough experience in the field of electric vehicles, CATL plans to enter new areas. Recently, CATL announced that it will enter the field of civilian electric manned aircraft and talked about the company's plans for condensed matter batteries. On September 18, CATL introduced the company's condensed matter battery plan on an interactive platform. CATL is currently cooperating in the development of a civil electric manned aircraft project, implementing aviation-grade standards and testing, and meeting aviation-grade safety and quality requirements. At the same time, a vehicle-grade application version of the condensed matter battery will be launched, which will have mass production capabilities within this year.
Previously, CATL had joined hands with Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "COMAC") to establish a joint venture. Tianyancha App information shows that on July 19, COMAC Times (Shanghai) Aviation Co., Ltd. was established, jointly held by CATL, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Co., Ltd. (referred to as "COMAC"), and Shanghai Jiaotong University Enterprise Development Group Co., Ltd. The shareholding ratios of each of the three companies have not yet been announced. The legal representative of the company is Qian Zhongyan, with a registered capital of 600 million yuan. Its business scope includes civil aircraft maintenance, design and production of civil aircraft parts, production of civil aircraft (engines, propellers), and battery sales.
CATL’s first public mention of batteries going to heaven was at the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show. On April 19, CATL officially released the condensed matter battery at the Shanghai Auto Show. Wu Kai, chief scientist of CATL, revealed that CATL’s condensed matter battery is currently co-developing a civilian electric manned aircraft project. According to people close to CATL, the new joint venture established by CATL and COMAC is for a pre-research project on electric aircraft. They hope to develop a fixed-wing electric aircraft, which is equivalent to an "electrically driven aerial coaster."
It is reported that electric aircraft may become the "new blue ocean" of new energy transportation. Data from Relue Consulting shows that the global electric aircraft market size will reach 1,789.074 billion yuan in 2022. It is expected that by 2028, the global electric aircraft market size will reach 2,475.15 billion yuan.