Asia is overtaking Germany in battery technology – red alert!

Asia is overtaking Germany in battery technology – red alert!

The Chinese manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) takes a leading position in battery technology. According to a report by t-online.de CATL has significantly increased its patent applications in the industry. This is reflected in the latest data from the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA), which shows an increase in applications from Asia.

Patent applications in battery technology increased by 16.6% to a total of 7,242 in 2024. The development is particularly striking in China, where patent applications rose by 22.6% to 1,591, while South Korea recorded an increase of 10.3%. Japan overtook Germany this year with 1,136 registrations, an increase of 7.8%. Germany itself only grew by 1.9% to 1,112 registrations.

Global market leadership and legal disputes

CATL has asserted itself not only through patent applications, but also through extensive legal action. The company first sued China Aviation Lithium Battery (CALB) in 2021 to enforce five patents and sought over 188 million Chinese yuan (about $25 million) in damages. To date, CATL has secured over 44.53 million Chinese yuan (approximately $6 million) from CALB and secured enforcement of another patent in July 2023.

CATL's progress in the international market is notable as the company holds a 37% market share in the global EV battery market as of November 2024. This is accompanied by intense competition between manufacturers, which also results in an increase in patent disputes.

Technological developments in the battery sector

The increasing number of patent applications in battery technology shows that companies from South Korea, China and Japan are continuing to expand their lead over German manufacturers. While Germany recorded a 15.1% increase in patent applications in solar technology in 2024, the gap in battery technology is significant. The largest individual applicants in battery technology are LG and Samsung from South Korea, followed by CATL.

These developments underline the dynamism and innovation potential in the industry, even if private inventors have hardly played a role in recent years. Almost 30% of German patent applications in solar technology come from private individuals, while other technology fields are heavily dominated by large companies.

The legal conflicts reflect the tightening of competition conditions. For example, in December 2023, China's Supreme People's Court rejected CATL's claims regarding certain patents. Additionally, in October 2023, CALB was forced to initiate patent infringement proceedings against CATL, illustrating the dynamic legal environment in the industry.

With over 20,000 active patents, CATL is not only involved in product development, but also in various legal disputes to defend and expand its market position. Despite the legal challenges, the company remains a key player in the electric vehicle battery market, and competition is expected to continue to intensify as companies increasingly pursue aggressive intellectual property strategies.