- Changan said it will collaborate with CATL to address mobility challenges in cold winter weather.
- A launch event will be held in the sub-zero temperatures of Yakeshi, Inner Mongolia.
Changan Automobile (SHE: 000625) will unveil its sodium-ion battery strategy with CATL (HKG: 3750, SHE: 300750) in two days, marking the beginning of large-scale adoption of this new battery type in passenger vehicles.
The automaker will showcase the latest safety advancements for its Tianshu Intelligent brand at an event in Yakshi, Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia on February 5, while jointly unveiling its sodium-ion battery strategy with CATL.
Changan and CATL will collaborate to tackle winter mobility challenges in cold weather, the automaker said in a Monday Weibo post.
Yaqishi, a popular winter testing ground for Chinese automakers, currently experiences sub-zero temperatures below -30°C.
Last week, domestic media outlet Cailian reported that CATL's sodium-ion battery brand Naxtra had been installed in a passenger vehicle model from Changan's Oshan sub-brand, preparing for winter testing.
Passenger vehicles from GAC Group and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp (JAC) will also adopt CATL's sodium-ion batteries, the report added.
CATL unveiled its first-generation sodium-ion battery in July 2021 amid surging lithium carbonate prices, sparking widespread attention for this emerging battery technology.
In April 2025, CATL unveiled its Naxtra sodium-ion battery brand at its Tech Day event, initiating exploration of lithium battery alternatives under the new brand.
Sodium-ion batteries remain in early development stages, not yet deployed at scale, and still face challenges including cost issues and lower energy density compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries.
However, these batteries are viewed as offering superior low-temperature performance, making them suitable for cold regions, and potentially lower costs in the long term.
