China keeps the lead
CATL finished the first half of 2026 with 39.9% of the global EV battery market, while BYD held 14.4%. Together, the two Chinese companies accounted for 54.3% of worldwide battery installations. That concentration still defines the top end of the supply chain.
Global EV battery usage reached 608.5 GWh in January-June 2026, up 20.0% year on year. CATL installed 242.7 GWh, up 25.3%. BYD installed 87.7 GWh, up just 1.6%.
What the wider ranking shows
Seven Chinese companies were in the global top 10, and their combined share reached 72.4%. Outside China, battery installations totalled 269.0 GWh, up 26.3% year on year. CATL still led that market too with 90.5 GWh and a 33.6% share.
LG Energy Solution ranked third with 52.6 GWh and an 8.6% share. CALB and Gotion High-tech followed with 31.2 GWh and 28.0%, while Panasonic, Eve Energy, SK On, Svolt and Sunwoda completed the top 10.
Why Nepali buyers should care
Nepal does not buy batteries directly in bulk, but the brands that dominate this supply chain often set the direction for EVs sold through Indian and Chinese channels. Battery scale, sourcing and manufacturing strength can influence which EV models reach Nepal, how quickly they arrive and how competitively they can be priced in the market.
For Nepali buyers, the practical takeaway is simple. As Chinese battery makers keep expanding, the cost base for many incoming EVs may stay under pressure, especially for models from Chinese brands and India-assembled EVs that rely on Chinese cells or technology.
Nepal relevance
This is newsworthy for Nepal because the battery leaders behind many EVs sold in the region are the same companies shaping the vehicles Nepali importers are likely to source from India and China. No Nepal launch or local price change was announced in this development.
Writes on vehicle pricing, taxation and the Nepali auto market from ongoing tracking of distributor price lists. Editorial policy.
