CATL, the world's largest battery maker, has developed new "tall" battery technology specifically for America's lucrative pickup truck market, despite being largely shut out by US trade barriers. Chief technology officer Zhu Lingbo said the batteries have already been tested by US carmakers, though he did not name them. The announcement comes as US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese counterpart He Lifeng prepare to meet in New York ahead of a summit between presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.

CATL dominates the EV battery market and has been pivoting to energy storage and data center batteries. However, the company faces high tariffs, localization requirements, and national security concerns, including a Pentagon designation alleging military links that CATL denies. US EV sales have plummeted after the end of tax credits and regulatory rollbacks, with EV penetration expected to remain below 10% this year versus 65% in China.

Zhu suggested CATL could license the new technology for US groups to manufacture domestically, similar to existing arrangements with Ford and Tesla. Ford's expanded relationship with CATL for energy storage batteries has drawn criticism from Congress and Detroit automakers. Meanwhile, CATL is expanding in Europe with factories in Hungary, Spain, and Germany, plus battery-swapping stations for electric lorries.