CATL EV Battery Market Share January 2026 Leads Global EV Battery Rankings

The CATL EV battery market share January 2026 highlights the continued dominance of the Chinese battery manufacturer in the global electric vehicle supply chain. According to data from SNE Research, total global EV battery usage reached approximately 71.9 GWh in January 2026, representing a 10.7% increase compared with the same month in 2025.

The global battery market remained highly concentrated, with a small group of major manufacturers accounting for the majority of installed battery capacity in electric vehicles worldwide.

Global EV Battery Market Leaders in January 2026

China’s CATL maintained its position as the world’s largest EV battery supplier by a wide margin. The company recorded battery installations of 32.5 GWh during the month, capturing a 45.2% global market share. This represented a year-on-year increase of 25.7% compared with the 25.9 GWh installed in January 2025.

The company supplies batteries to a broad portfolio of automakers. These include Chinese manufacturers such as Seres, Xiaomi, Li Auto, and Geely Auto, as well as global vehicle manufacturers including Tesla, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen.

To strengthen its long-term technological leadership, the company is also accelerating commercialization of sodium-ion battery technologies, which are expected to play a role in future EV platforms and energy storage systems.

BYD Maintains Second Place Despite Market Share Decline

BYD ranked second globally in January 2026 with battery installations totaling 9.9 GWh. Although this figure represents a slight decline from 10.1 GWh recorded a year earlier, the company maintained its global ranking among EV battery suppliers.

BYD’s market share fell to 13.8% from 15.6% in January 2025. The decline was mainly linked to reduced domestic vehicle sales in China during the period.

However, the company saw strong growth in overseas markets. BYD’s European sales increased by 69.4%, while deliveries in other international markets surged by 97.6%, helping offset some domestic market weakness.

South Korean Battery Makers Face Market Pressure

The combined market share of the three major South Korean battery manufacturers—LG Energy Solution, SK On, and Samsung SDI—declined significantly during the month. Together, the companies held about 12% of the global EV battery market.

Impact of Slowing EV Demand in the United States

The decline in market share was largely attributed to weakening EV demand in the United States, where electric vehicle sales dropped by approximately 30.2% year-on-year.

LG Energy Solution ranked third globally with 4.7 GWh of battery installations, while SK On placed seventh with 2.3 GWh and Samsung SDI ranked tenth with 1.6 GWh. Battery usage for these companies declined year-on-year by 14.9%, 21.3%, and 24.4% respectively.

Samsung SDI supplies battery systems to brands including BMW, Audi, Rivian, and Land Rover, while SK On’s batteries power vehicles from Hyundai Motor Group, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen. LG Energy Solution’s key customers include Tesla, Hyundai, Renault, and Volkswagen.

Other Key Global Battery Suppliers

China’s CALB ranked fourth globally with 3.8 GWh of battery installations, giving it a 5.3% market share. Japan’s Panasonic followed in fifth position with 3.1 GWh and a 4.3% share of the market.

Additional Chinese manufacturers also continued expanding their presence in the EV battery ecosystem. Gotion High-tech ranked sixth globally with a 3.9% market share, while Eve Energy placed ninth with 2.4% of global installations.

The global EV battery supply landscape continues to evolve as demand grows across multiple regions and manufacturers invest in next-generation technologies and expanded production capacity.