CATL Founder Criticizes Elon Musk’s Battery Strategy, Predicts Failure
Robin Zeng, the founder of Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), has publicly criticized Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s focus on 4680 cylindrical cell technology, claiming that Musk’s approach to battery development is fundamentally flawed and destined for failure.
The disagreement came to light during Musk’s recent visit to China, where the two industry leaders engaged in a heated debate about battery technology. Zeng asserted that Musk lacks the necessary expertise in battery manufacturing, despite Tesla’s significant investments in this area.
Tesla’s 4680 “tabless” cells, currently used in vehicles like the Cybertruck, have been marketed as having “five times” more energy capacity than previous designs. The company announced the production of 100 million 4680 cells in September. However, reports suggest that Musk has set a year-end deadline to resolve ongoing cost and production issues associated with these batteries.
CATL, a major supplier of batteries for various electric vehicles including Tesla’s China-made models and Ford’s Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning in North America, has focused its efforts on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. While LFP batteries typically offer less range than Tesla’s cylindrical cells, they have gained popularity due to their cost-effectiveness and stability.
Despite his criticism of Musk’s battery strategy, Zeng acknowledged the Tesla CEO’s strengths in other areas, including chips, software, hardware, and mechanical engineering. However, he took issue with Musk’s tendency to “overpromise” on timelines, particularly regarding the development of Full Self-Driving technology.
Recounting a conversation with Musk, Zeng revealed that he questioned the Tesla CEO about his habit of setting unrealistic deadlines. Musk reportedly responded that these ambitious timelines are intended to motivate his team.
As the electric vehicle market continues to evolve, the clash between these two industry titans highlights the ongoing debate over the most effective battery technologies and development strategies in the rapidly growing EV sector.
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