**Northvolt’s collapse leaves Europe’s EV battery dreams in tatters — and opens the door for China’s CATL**
Europe’s homegrown EV battery champion Northvolt has filed for bankruptcy after burning through $15 billion, leaving the continent’s green energy ambitions in jeopardy. The Swedish startup’s failure clears the path for China’s CATL — already the world’s top battery producer — to expand its European factories in Germany, Hungary, and Spain. With aggressive hiring plans and localized strategies (even adding bratwurst to factory menus), CATL is poised to dominate Europe’s EV supply chain as geopolitical tensions reshape the industry. Analysts warn Europe must urgently rethink trade policies or risk ceding its battery future to Chinese giants.
**China’s CATL is quietly taking over Europe’s EV battery market — and even serving bratwurst to blend in**
As Northvolt’s bankruptcy sends shockwaves through Europe’s green energy sector, Chinese battery titan CATL is accelerating its European expansion with three factories and thousands of new hires. The Shenzhen-based firm, backed by Beijing’s industrial might, is localizing operations — from German barbecue in cafeterias to potential recycling partnerships — while EU policymakers scramble to respond. With US tariffs locking Chinese EVs out of America, Europe’s softer trade barriers make it prime territory for CATL’s global dominance, leaving homegrown competitors struggling to keep pace.
**Europe’s battery crisis deepens as $15B Northvolt collapses — and China’s CATL moves in**
The spectacular failure of Europe’s EV battery hopeful Northvolt has exposed the continent’s reliance on Chinese manufacturers like CATL, which is rapidly expanding its German and Hungarian gigafactories. While EU leaders debate trade protections, CATL is hiring nearly 2,000 local workers and adapting to European culture — a stark contrast to Northvolt’s overambitious global plans. Analysts warn Europe must either adopt China’s playbook of aggressive state support or resign itself to playing second fiddle in the battery race.
**From bratwurst to batteries: How China’s CATL is winning Europe’s EV war after Northvolt’s fall**
With Northvolt’s bankruptcy leaving a $15 billion crater in Europe’s battery ambitions, China’s CATL is filling the void through localized factories, strategic hiring, and even menu changes to win over European workers. As the EU struggles to turn research into production, CATL’s state-backed scale and recycling partnerships threaten to cement Chinese dominance in Europe’s clean energy transition. Experts say the continent must overhaul trade rules fast — or risk becoming permanently dependent on Beijing’s battery supremacy.