Changan Automobile announced that it will hold a global sodium battery strategy and safety technology event on February 5 in Yakeshi, Inner Mongolia, highlighting progress in sodium-ion battery development and joint testing with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) in cold-climate conditions for passenger vehicles.
The event, officially titled the Tianshu Intelligent Safety Achievements Release and Global Sodium Battery Strategy Conference, will present new safety technology results alongside Changan’s sodium battery roadmap. Demonstrations are expected to focus on addressing low-temperature performance challenges in electric vehicles, reflecting ongoing collaboration between Changan and CATL.
The announcement follows the confirmed expansion of sodium-ion batteries from commercial vehicles into passenger cars, with Changan Oshan models among the first to integrate CATL’s sodium battery technology and participate in winter testing activities in China. Industry reports indicate that CATL’s sodium battery brand “Naxin” has begun public winter testing in passenger vehicles, with additional models from other Chinese automakers, including GAC and JAC, expected to join subsequent phases.
CATL has stated that sodium-ion batteries are planned for large-scale deployment in 2026 across battery-swapping systems, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and energy storage. This reflects a broader commercialization roadmap for alternative battery chemistries in China’s new energy vehicle sector. The company previously launched its Tianxing II sodium-ion battery series for light commercial vehicles in January 2026, featuring an energy density of 175 Wh/kg and certification under China’s latest GB 38031-2025 national safety standard, with performance designed for operation in extreme cold conditions.
Industry data indicates that sodium-ion batteries are being positioned as a complementary technology to lithium-based batteries, particularly for cost-sensitive segments and cold-climate applications. Rising lithium prices have increased interest among Chinese battery manufacturers and automakers in alternative chemistries. Chinese industry sources report that sodium-ion batteries currently deliver energy densities below those of mature lithium iron phosphate batteries but offer advantages in low-temperature capacity retention and material cost stability, supporting their initial deployment in entry-level vehicles and specialized use cases.
The scheduled event in Yakeshi, a recognized cold-weather testing hub, reflects ongoing coordination between Changan and CATL as Chinese automakers accelerate sodium-ion battery testing and prepare for wider passenger-vehicle deployment aligned with the industry’s 2026 commercialization timeline.
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