Shanghai (ZXZC)- On Jan. 8, CATL inaugurated a Shanghai-based research institute dedicated to future energy source, which will be built in cooperation with Shanghai Jiaotong University, according to a post on the battery giant's WeChat account.

CATL inaugurating Shanghai-based future energy research institute; photo credit: CATL

The inauguration came after CATL signed a framework agreement with Shanghai municipal government in last August. As part of the cooperation, the Ningde-headquartered battery maker would set up the aforesaid research facility in the megacity. Besides, CATL's global innovation center, headquarters for international functions, and a high-end manufacturing base would be located there as well.

CATL said the newly-launched research institute will aim to make breakthroughs in a number of cutting-edge technologies in the new energy field and build itself into a global innovation center of future energy sources in the long run. Besides, the facility will also help Shanghai develop its own ecosystem related to future energy and become a world's well-known source of innovation and industrial cluster for new energy technologies.

Moreover, CATL has agreed to locate a high-end production base in Lin-gang Special Area, home to Tesla's Giagafactory 3. The decision will greatly facilitate the battery supply to Tesla, a major client of CATL.

The aforesaid framework deal doesn't mention the production capacity details. Nevertheless, a governmental official revealed in late Dec. 2021 that CATL's Shanghai factory would produce battery modules and is likely to start production in Jan. 2022.