On April 21 at its Tech Day event, CATL announced that its sodium-ion batteries are slated to enter mass production by 2026. The company’s Chief Scientist, Wu Kai, stated that core manufacturing challenges have been resolved, clearing the way for large-scale output as early as the fourth quarter of this year. CATL expects that once the supply chain matures, vehicles equipped with these batteries could achieve driving ranges of up to 600 kilometers.
Sodium-ion cells offer several notable advantages compared with lithium iron phosphate and nickel-manganese-cobalt chemistries. They can retain roughly 90% of their nominal capacity even at minus 40 degrees Celsius, and their production cost is projected to be approximately 30% lower than that of LFP batteries. Because they do not rely on lithium or other scarce minerals, they also help diversify the supply chain. The primary trade-off remains a lower energy density, currently around 175 watt-hours per kilogram.
According to CATL’s Chief Technology Officer, Gao Huan, the company has overcome four major technical hurdles—extreme moisture control, hard-carbon gas generation, aluminum foil bonding challenges and large-scale manufacturing of self-generating anodes. In addressing over 100 engineering issues, CATL has laid the groundwork for commercial-scale deployment. By 2025, the company had invested nearly 10 billion yuan in sodium battery research and development. CATL’s Chairman, Robin Zeng, anticipates that sodium-ion technology could eventually capture 30% to 40% of the broader battery market.
Commercial applications are already under way. In December 2025, CATL announced plans to deploy sodium-ion batteries across four segments—battery swapping services, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles and stationary energy storage. Early in 2026, the company introduced its Tectrans II light commercial vehicle solution featuring its first mass-produced sodium system. On February 5, the first mass-produced sodium-ion passenger car, developed with Changan Automobile, was unveiled ahead of a mid-year launch. A variant of the Aion UT Super, co-developed with JD.com and GAC Group, is set to enter production in the second quarter of 2026.
Despite lower energy density limiting current applications to micro EVs priced under 100,000 yuan, CATL is optimistic about future performance improvements. As the supply chain matures, the company envisions pure electric vehicles with 600-kilometer ranges and extended-range hybrids offering 300 to 400 kilometers on electric power, addressing over half of market demand.
Source: CarNewsChina
