# CATL tops 15 Chinese automakers combined in first-half profits

*The battery giant posted 43.28 billion yuan in interim net profit, more than double the combined earnings of 15 domestic vehicle manufacturers as showroom price wars erode assembly margins.*

**Published:** September 9, 2026  
**By:** Wei Zhang  
**Section:** Analysis & Comparison — China  
**Format:** Why It Matters  
**Confidence:** high  
**Source:** https://eastasiabrief.com/analysis/catl-tops-15-chinese-automakers-combined-first-half-profits-218  
**Publisher:** East Asia Brief (https://eastasiabrief.com/)

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## What to know

- Contemporary Amperex Technology earned more than twice the combined net profit of 15 major Chinese automakers in the first half of the year, industry financial disclosures compiled on Sept.
- The 15 vehicle manufacturers listed on exchanges in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong posted a combined net profit of 21.
- Contemporary Amperex Technology, known as CATL, posted net profit attributable to shareholders of 43.

![A worker handles an electric vehicle battery module alongside robotic arms on an automated production line. (AI-generated image)](https://eastasiabrief.com/media/2026-09-08-ed002efc4ac4.webp)
*A worker handles an electric vehicle battery module alongside robotic arms on an automated production line. (AI-generated image)*

Contemporary Amperex Technology earned more than twice the combined net profit of 15 major Chinese automakers in the first half of the year, industry financial disclosures compiled on Sept. 8 showed.

The 15 vehicle manufacturers listed on exchanges in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong posted a combined net profit of 21.05 billion yuan ($3.1 billion). That figure represents a 40% decline from the same period last year.

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Cite as: East Asia Brief, "CATL tops 15 Chinese automakers combined in first-half profits," September 9, 2026. https://eastasiabrief.com/analysis/catl-tops-15-chinese-automakers-combined-first-half-profits-218