"He Doesn't Know How to Make Batteries": CATL CEO Criticizes Elon Musk

CATL, the world's largest battery manufacturer, has often disagreed with Elon Musk on various issues, particularly when it comes to battery technology, according to the company's founder and chairman, Zeng Yuqun.

Zeng, who is also the CEO of CATL, has publicly criticized Tesla CEO Elon Musk's decision to bet on the 4680 cylindrical battery format.

CATL supplies batteries to Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory and specializes in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.

Back in 2020, Tesla made a bold move, announcing that it was developing a new battery cell format—the 4680 battery. This battery powers the Cybertruck and has also been used in the Model Y crossover SUV.

The 4680 cylindrical battery was touted as having higher energy density than the 2170 cells in the Model 3 and Model Y, and the 1865 cells in the Model S and Model X. It was also claimed to be cheaper to produce and easier to assemble.

Recently, Tesla announced that it had produced its 100 millionth 4680 battery cell, a significant milestone that demonstrates the company's success in ramping up production. With an average daily output of 495,000 cells, Tesla is now able to meet the demand for 368 Cybertrucks.

However, CATL is skeptical about the future of the cylindrical battery. Zeng Yuqun personally conveyed this opinion to Musk, but the Tesla CEO reportedly did not respond.

In an interview with Reuters, Zeng stated that he told Musk that betting on the 4680 cylindrical battery “will fail and never succeed.”

Zeng said, “We had a very heated debate, and I pointed this out to him. But he didn’t say anything. He doesn’t know how to make batteries. It’s all about electrochemistry. He’s good with chips, software, hardware, and mechanics, but not with batteries.”

But Zeng didn’t stop there. He also criticized Musk for setting unrealistic timelines for product launches. “His problem is over-promising,” Zeng explained. “I’ve talked to him about this. Maybe something will take five years, but he says it will only take two. I asked him why, and he told me it was to motivate the team.”

Musk has long claimed that Tesla cars will achieve full self-driving within the next decade. This promise reached its peak with the unveiling of the Cybercab, a fully autonomous concept car that Tesla plans to launch in 2026. The car, which reportedly won’t have a steering wheel or pedals, is set to be a major step toward Tesla's vision of self-driving vehicles.

In the interview with Reuters, Zeng said, “Musk might think it will take five years to achieve, but if you believe him when he says it will happen in two, you’re in trouble. That said, the general direction is correct.”

According to Reuters, Zeng met with Musk in Beijing this past April, and the two often discuss a range of topics. It’s important to note that CATL is a key supplier for Tesla’s Shanghai factory, which assembles Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles for both the Chinese and international markets. Tesla has also licensed CATL’s technology for its upcoming battery factory in Nevada, which is expected to begin operations next year.

Tesla's 4680 cylindrical battery uses a lithium-ion chemistry system, with a nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) cathode. In contrast, CATL specializes in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) square batteries. Recently, the Chinese giant also launched a consumer-grade sodium-ion battery, which has an even lower manufacturing cost than LFP batteries.