CATL’s Naxtra-branded sodium‑ion batteries have now been integrated into a Changan Oshan passenger vehicle, marking a significant step toward wider adoption of this emerging technology.
The model is preparing for winter trials, according to reports from Chinese outlets CnEV post and Cailian, which cited several independent sources.
Further passenger vehicles from GAC Group and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp (JAC) are expected to follow, each set to feature CATL’s sodium‑ion systems. This development comes after the batteries were first deployed in commercial vehicles, signalling a shift toward mainstream automotive use.
CATL introduced its first-generation sodium‑ion battery in July 2021, at a time when lithium carbonate prices were soaring. Interest in this technology has grown steadily since, driven by the promise of lower costs and improved cold‑weather performance. In April 2025, the company launched the Naxtra brand to accelerate its work on alternatives to lithium‑based chemistries.
The Naxtra passenger‑vehicle battery delivers an energy density of up to 175 Wh/kg, placing it at the forefront of global sodium‑ion development and on par with many LFP batteries. CATL recently expanded its portfolio with the Tectrans II series for light commercial vehicles, including a 45‑kWh pack capable of charging at –30°C and retaining 90% usable capacity at –40°C.
Earlier this year, CATL’s chief technology officer Gao Huan said the firm expected sodium‑ion batteries to reach passenger vehicles in the second quarter, with the first model coming from GAC Aion. The latest reports suggest deployment is progressing even faster than anticipated. As production scales, CATL expects the technology to spread across passenger cars, commercial fleets, energy storage and construction machinery.
Other companies are also turning to sodium-ion batteries. These include BYD (who in 2024 began development of its first sodium-ion battery plant), EVE Energy and Ronbay Technology.
