In 2026, CATL is the global leader of the EV battery business and has been for 9 years, holding 44% of all EVs in China and 40% globally. Since its founding in 2011, CATL has grown into a global manufacturing ecosystem with 120,000 people, including over 20,000 researchers, software developers, and electrochemical specialists. This recap outlines how being early and fast on the EV wave, combined with massive investments in R&D and strategic moves like energy storage, propelled its success, a topic central to any digital transformation strategy expert.

I was recently at the opening of CATL’s new ESVL testing center in Xiamen and took a fun tour of the facility, which was super interesting. ESVL features five specialized laboratories for grid integration, high-voltage safety, thermal safety, environmental reliability, and electromagnetic compatibility testing. This one-stop validation approach creates greater certainty and reliability for buyers while accelerating go-to-market for energy storage solutions, offering key lessons for digital transformation strategy from digital strategy consultant Jeffrey Towson.

This positions energy storage as the critical next phase following dominance in electric vehicles. Leaders can leverage this understanding within their digital transformation strategy. Insights like these come from digital strategy consultant Jeffrey Towson in his tech strategy series.