China Dominates: Global EV Battery Installations Surpass 1,000 GWh, What It Means for Western Buyers

Is the Global EV Battery Race Over? China’s 1,000 GWh Milestone Signals a Seismic Shift

Have Western automakers finally lost the energy density battle, or is this just a blip? The latest data from South Korean research firm SNE Research paints a stark picture for the global electric vehicle supply chain: as of November 2025, worldwide EV battery installations (covering BEV, PHEV, and HEV) smashed through the **1,000 GWh** barrier, hitting 1,046 GWh—a massive 32.6% jump from the prior year. For Western investors and consumers alike, this isn’t just a number; it’s a declaration of where the manufacturing gravity of e-mobility now firmly resides: China.

The story is one of overwhelming Chinese dominance, with six manufacturers securing spots in the global top ten. This has put significant pressure on the established ‘Big Three’ South Korean players, whose collective market share is shrinking. This analysis breaks down the key figures, explains why this matters for your next car purchase, and highlights the strategic plays being made by the leaders.

The Unshakeable Top Tier: CATL and BYD Cement Their Lead

The global market is functionally a duopoly at the very top, with Chinese giants commanding the lion’s share. The performance of the top two showcases two distinct, yet equally successful, growth models:

• CATL (Ning Wang/King Ning): Remained the undisputed global No. 1 with a colossal 400.0 GWh installed, growing 34.5% year-over-year. CATL’s expertise lies in its diversified customer base, powering everyone from domestic stars like Xiaomi and Li Auto to global titans like Tesla, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen. This broad client appeal is the bedrock of its scale.
• BYD: Secured a strong second place with 175.2 GWh, up 31.3%. BYD’s strategy is the textbook definition of vertical integration—making both the vehicle and the battery. This allows for ferocious price competitiveness, which is fueling explosive overseas growth. Notably, BYD’s battery usage in Europe skyrocketed by 206.6% year-over-year, reaching 12.7 GWh in the first 11 months.

Collectively, CATL and BYD are setting the pace, with their combined share of the global market approaching 55% by the end of the year.

The Ascent of China’s Next Wave: Who Should Western OEMs Watch?

Beyond the top two, several other Chinese firms demonstrated impressive acceleration, hinting at a deep talent pool ready to challenge the established order. This rapid expansion by lower-ranked players is forcing Western buyers to rapidly consider new supply chains:

• Gotion High-tech: Jumped to fifth place with 44.9 GWh, showing a remarkable 77.8% growth. This performance suggests Gotion is successfully winning contracts outside its domestic base.
• EVE Energy & SVOLT: Both posted staggering growth rates near 77-85%, indicating strong OEM adoption driven by cost or specialized cell chemistry.
• CALB: Secured the fourth spot with a solid 42% growth.

For a deeper dive into how these Chinese battery firms are securing global partnerships, see our analysis on global battery supply chain diversification.

Pressure Mounts on Korea: The K-Trio Faces Market Share Contraction

The contrast to the Chinese growth story is the concurrent pressure on South Korea’s top three—LG Energy Solution, SK On, and Samsung SDI. Their combined market share dropped to 15.7%, a 3.5 percentage point decline year-over-year.

The situation within the trio is differentiated:

The Winners (Relatively Speaking):

• LG Energy Solution: Held onto third place, with 96.9 GWh installed and 11.1% YoY growth, largely sustained by its major OEM clients.
• SK On: Ranked sixth, posting 14.1% growth, benefiting from steady VW and Hyundai Group sales. However, recent high-profile quality issues, such as a massive VW ID.4 recall linked to SK On modules in the US, present a significant risk to future Western OEM confidence.

The Stumbling Block:

• Samsung SDI: Was the only one of the three to record a year-on-year decline in installation volume (down 5.1%), despite supplying major clients like BMW. This dip is reportedly tied to supply issues with key customers like Rivian.

Western Investor Takeaway: Supply Chain Risk vs. Cost Advantage

What does this 1,000+ GWh milestone signal to the West? It validates the thesis that battery manufacturing, the most critical component of an EV, has become an area of distinct Chinese technological and manufacturing leadership. While geopolitical tensions are driving efforts like the US’s IRA to ‘re-shore’ production, the current data shows incumbents like CATL and BYD are simply growing faster, even in overseas markets like Europe.

For Western OEMs, the choice is balancing supply chain security against BYD’s incredible price competitiveness derived from vertical integration. For consumers, this dominance means that the most advanced, cost-effective battery technology is increasingly likely to be found under the hood of a Chinese brand or a Western EV sourcing directly from a Chinese supplier.