Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) has begun integrating its sodium-ion batteries into passenger vehicles, marking a shift from their initial deployment in commercial fleets. According to a report by local media outlet Cailian, multiple independent sources indicate that CATL’s Naxtra brand sodium-ion cells have been installed in a model from Changan Automobile’s Oshan sub-brand, which is set to undergo winter performance testing. Following this pilot, passenger vehicle models from GAC Group and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group (JAC) are also slated to receive CATL’s sodium-ion packs.
First introduced in July 2021 amid elevated lithium carbonate prices, CATL’s sodium-ion chemistry attracted attention for its lower raw-material costs and improved safety profile. At its April 2025 Technology Day, the company formalized the Naxtra brand for these alternative cells. CATL reports that the latest Naxtra generation achieves energy densities up to 175 watt-hours per kilogram, placing it on par with industry-standard lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries and positioning it among the highest-density sodium-ion products globally.
In its recent product announcement, CATL also unveiled the Tectrans II series targeting light commercial vehicles. This lineup includes a 45-kilowatt-hour sodium-ion battery pack capable of charging at temperatures as low as –30°C and retaining 90 percent of its usable capacity even at –40°C, underscoring the chemistry’s resilience in extreme cold.
In a January 22 interview with China Securities Journal, CATL Chief Technology Officer Gao Huan projected that the company would expand sodium-ion battery adoption in passenger cars during the second quarter, with an upcoming GAC Aion model among the first to feature the technology. Gao added that as production capacity scales, CATL plans to deploy sodium-ion batteries across a broad array of sectors, including passenger and commercial vehicles, stationary energy storage, and construction machinery.
Source: CNEV Post
