CALB
{{Short description|Chinese battery company}}
{{Infobox company
| logo = China Aviation Lithium Battery logo.png
| native_name = 中创新航科技集团股份有限公司
| native_name_lang = zh-Hans
| traded_as = HKG: 3931
| industry = Lithium-ion batteries
| hq_location_city = Changzhou
| hq_location_country = China
| key_people = Liu Jingyu (CEO)
| website = {{url|http://en.calb-tech.com}}
}}
China Aviation Lithium Battery (CALB) is a partially state-owned{{Cite web |title=State-backed battery maker gives competitive jolt to China's CATL |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Electric-cars-in-China/State-backed-battery-maker-gives-competitive-jolt-to-China-s-CATL |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=Nikkei Asia |language=en-GB}} developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries. It is headquartered in Changzhou, Jiangsu province.
In 2022, CALB was the 7th largest supplier of batteries for electric vehicles in the world,{{Cite web |last=Hampel |first=Carrie |date=2022-10-10 |title=CALB starts manufacturing batteries at new Hefei plant |url=https://www.electrive.com/2022/10/10/calb-starts-manufacturing-batteries-at-new-hefei-plant/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=electrive.com |language=en-US}} 3rd in China (behind CATL and BYD). Its products also include batteries for the grid energy storage.{{Cite web |title=Energy Storage Market_Products_CALB Group Co.，Ltd |url=http://en.calb-tech.com/product/14/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=en.calb-tech.com}}
History
CALB was founded in 2007 as part of the China Airborne Missile Academy, a division of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). It is currently controlled by the Changzhou city government.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-06 |title=CATL is the world's largest EV battery maker, but can the company hold onto its leading position? |url=https://kr-asia.com/catl-is-the-worlds-largest-ev-battery-maker-but-can-the-company-hold-onto-its-leading-position |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=KrASIA |language=en}}
In 2011, CALB received a large order from the Hangzhou government after it started using CALB batteries on electric taxis.
By 2013, CALB was leading in market share for commercial electric vehicle batteries in China.{{Cite web |title=中创新航逆袭背后——风口上的地域较量 |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/www.sohu.com/a/674,641,092_475103 |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=www.sohu.com}}
In 2017, the company suffered large losses as some important commercial vehicle battery customers left, leading AVIC to look for a buyer for the company. At the time, CALB was still headquartered in Luoyang, but the Luoyang government was unable to provide the required financial support. Eventually, the Changzhou government bought the company and moved its headquarters to Changzhou.
Under chairwoman Liu Jingyu, the company focused on the passenger electric vehicle battery market, and started making profit again.{{Cite web |title=【深度】中创新航杠上宁德时代，是自不量力还是确有实力？ |url=https://www.stcn.com/article/detail/778882.html |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=www.stcn.com}}
File:IAA Summit 2023, Munich (P1110721).jpg, in December 2023 it was the best selling EV containing CALB's batteries{{Cite web |title=Analysis of CALB's EV battery insta... |url=https://www.mysteel.net/news/5036136-analysis-of-calbs-ev-battery-installations-in-2022 |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=www.mysteel.net |language=en}}]]
In 2021, half of CALB's sales went to Chinese car manufacturer GAC. Other customers include Changan, Leapmotor and XPeng.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-06 |title=Exclusive: CALB aims for 'aggressive' growth for top-3 spot in battery market |url=https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3194945/chinas-third-largest-ev-battery-maker-calb-eyes-global-top |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}} Meanwhile, CALB had spun off its military business.
The company has doubled in size for three consecutive years, as it batteries were considered safer and cheaper than the competition.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-06 |title=CATL is the world's largest EV battery maker, but can the company hold onto its leading position? |url=https://kr-asia.com/catl-is-the-worlds-largest-ev-battery-maker-but-can-the-company-hold-onto-its-leading-position |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=KrASIA |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-05 |title=EV battery maker CALB raises US$1.26 billion amid weak Hong Kong IPO demand |url=https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3194863/chinese-ev-battery-maker-calb-raises-us126-billion-hong |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}
In October 2022, CALB raised HK$9.9 billion in an initial public offering.
{{Clear}}