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Robin Zeng

Cofounder & Chairman, Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL)

Search every verified Robin Zeng interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Robin Zeng, chairman and CEO of CATL, said at a June 2026 interview that solid-state batteries are not the "holy grail" many imagine, citing unresolved technical issues such as solid-state interface problems and material compaction misalignment during production. He assessed solid-state battery technology readiness at level four on a nine-level scale, and argued that large-scale commercialization before 2030 for millions of vehicles is unlikely due to cost and performance hurdles. He emphasized that innovation is event-driven rather than time-driven, stating that "you cannot schedule the innovation." At CATL's Tech Day in April 2026, Zeng introduced the second-generation Free Voy super hybrid battery, which he said achieves a 500-kilometer pure electric range with 10C supercharging. He also stated that for battery electric vehicles priced above 250,000 yuan, using LFP chemistry is "a disguised downgrade," and asserted that CATL reinvested one-third of its revenue into R&D, resulting in over 60,000 patents. He characterized the future energy replenishment landscape as one where home charging, public charging, and battery swapping each take a share and complement one another, and said globalizing Chinese technologies requires "high-quality innovation and verifiable capability."

Recent appearances

Notable quotes

“The future energy replenishments landscape will be home charging, public charging, and batteries swapping. Each taking a share and complementing one another. This is not about choosing one over another, but about precise matching for different scenarios and needs.”

“For CITL, R&D isn't a cost. It's our ability to outlast any cycle. We reinvested one-third of our revenue into R&D fueling over 60,000 patents.”

“For BEVs priced above 250,000, choosing LFP is in my view a disguised downgrade. Without chilling, it is not truly premium.”

“We have achieved the highest recovery rates in the industry. 99.6% for nickel and the cobalt and 96.5% for lithium to build a stable sustainable supply of critical raw materials. We are also working closely with governments and industry peers to promote a circular economy.”

“While fighting global warming appears to be a climate issue, it is essentially an energy issue and fundamentally a development issue. We believe international cooperation is the most efficient way to tackle it and we are willing to share the battery technologies and experience with the world.”

“We would like to propose a solution: setting up a special economic zone that adopts similar regulations of building and equipment which are practiced in China. This would quickly scale up productivity as it has been proven successfully in China.”

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