February 9, 2026: CATL and Chinese auto firm Changan have unveiled what the partners said is the first mass-production car equipped with sodium ion batteries.
Changan said the vehicle was rolled out in Inner Mongolia on February 5 and the model is set for market release by the middle of this year — marking the move of sodium ion tech from pilot applications to large-scale commercial passenger use.
The launch represents a major step in the industry’s transition toward a dual-chemistry ecosystem, where sodium ion and lithium ion batteries complement each other to meet diverse customer needs, Changan said.
CATL, as Changan’s exclusive battery partner for sodium ion, is supplying its Naxtra brand across the auto firm’s range.
Naxtra was revealed along with two other EV battery types last April. According to CATL, Naxtra achieves an energy density of up to 175Wh/kg, setting the current benchmark for mass production.
Its advanced cell-to-pack system and intelligent BMS enable a pure-electric range exceeding 400km, the Chinese battery giant claimed.
As the sodium-ion supply chain advances, ranges are projected to reach 500-600km for pure-electric variants and 300-400km for range-extended/hybrid configurations — covering over 50% of the range requirements in the new energy vehicle market.
CATL said Naxtra operates reliably even under extreme cold, delivering nearly triple the discharge power of equivalent LFP batteries at -30°C, while maintaining over 90% capacity retention at -40°C and stable power delivery at temperatures as low as -50 °C.
Additionally, the battery maker said testing conditions including crushing and drilling has shown the battery “stays smoke and fire free and continues to provide power, setting a new standard for safety and reliability”.
Batteries International reported CATL’s launch of its second-generation sodium battery last November.
Speaking at the World Young Scientists Summit on November 18, CATL chief scientist Wu Kai said the launch marked a significant leap forward in battery technology, especially for colder regions where traditional lithium ion batteries may falter.
