Changan and CATL Debut First Mass-Produced Sodium-Ion Passenger EV
Chinese automotive manufacturer Changan has introduced the world’s first mass-produced passenger vehicle equipped with sodium-ion batteries, developed in partnership with CATL. The companies are positioning the technology around strong performance in extremely low temperatures and enhanced fire safety.
After a decade of research and development, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), the world’s largest battery producer, has reached a key milestone in commercializing sodium-ion technology. State-owned China Changan Automobile Group has now unveiled the first passenger vehicle to deploy the solution at mass scale.
According to the companies, the Changan Nevo A06 (Changan Qiyuan A06) sedan is expected to reach the market by mid-year. They report a driving range of more than 400 kilometers under the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC), powered by CATL’s 45 kWh Naxtra battery—while noting that Western testing standards are generally more stringent.
Naxtra is built as a cell-to-pack (CTP) system, integrating cells directly rather than using an intermediate module structure.
Safety as a differentiator in the EV market
While the Nevo A06 is not the first vehicle to use sodium-ion batteries, Changan and CATL are aiming to achieve true mass production. Changan plans to expand Naxtra adoption across its wider brand portfolio, including AVATR, Deepal, and UNI.
CATL emphasized that sodium-ion batteries are intended to complement—not replace—lithium-ion solutions. The company described the launch as a significant step toward a dual-chemistry ecosystem in which sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries work together to meet diverse customer requirements. CATL also underscored its view that the technology is safe, reliable, and high-performing.
Cold-weather performance and fire safety claims
CATL stated that its Naxtra sodium-ion battery reaches an energy density of up to 175 Wh/kg, which it described as the current benchmark for mass production and approaching the average levels of lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries.
The manufacturer added that as the sodium-ion supply chain matures, driving ranges are projected to rise to 500–600 kilometers.
On low-temperature performance, CATL said the battery remains reliable in extreme cold, delivering nearly three times the discharge power of comparable LFP batteries at minus 30°C. It also reported more than 90% capacity retention at minus 40°C and stable power delivery down to minus 50°C.
CATL further said the battery has been tested under harsh conditions—including crushing, drilling, and sawing—while remaining free of smoke and fire and continuing to provide power.
In addition, the companies argue that sodium costs a fraction of LFP material, potentially strengthening the cost case for broader adoption.
Given sodium-ion’s claimed resistance to cold, the partners are eyeing colder-climate markets as an avenue to support electric-vehicle sales, noting that lithium-ion solutions are more sensitive to low temperatures.
Ouyang Xiaolong, CATL’s head engineer for passenger cars, told the South China Morning Post that more than 10,000 new battery units would be deployed this year, with the goal of reaching “hundreds of thousands” by 2027.
