China’s EV battery giants wade into shipbuilding to bolster Beijing’s dominance

China's leading EV battery makers, CATL and Gotion High-tech, are expanding into shipbuilding to support Beijing's dominance in the industry. CATL plans to launch a pure electric vessel in three years, while Gotion's battery packs power a ship with 132 standard containers. China's shipbuilding firms held 65% of global orders in 2025. The US and South Korea are also increasing efforts in shipbuilding. Jiangnan Shipyard plans to build the world's first nuclear-powered container vessel by 2035.