Changan and CATL to Scale Joint Battery Cell Capacity to 75 GWh

Changan Automobile and battery giant CATL are deepening their existing joint venture, with plans to raise combined production capacity to 75 GWh. The expansion was disclosed via a filing on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, in which Changan outlined an additional 25 GWh on top of the initially targeted 50 GWh. The new capacity will be housed at a sprawling facility of approximately 700,000 square metres, situated in a high-tech zone bridging Chongqing and Sichuan Province. Investment for the project is estimated at five billion yuan, with operations slated to commence in 2027 and the full 25 GWh increment expected to be phased in over three years.

The CATL-Changan joint venture, established in 2023, already supplies batteries to several of Changan’s electric vehicle brands, including Avatr, Deepal and Nevo. According to Changan, the new plant will produce cells featuring CATL’s latest battery technology. Beyond sheer volume, the two companies intend to broaden their technological collaboration, with a particular emphasis on solid-state and sodium-ion batteries. This dual focus suggests a strategy that pairs near-term capacity growth with long-term innovation in next-generation chemistries.

Changan has been independently pursuing solid-state battery development under its ‘Golden Bell’ programme, having announced targets of up to 400 Wh/kg energy density, over 1,500 kilometres of range, more than 5,000 charging cycles and 6C charging capability. The company aims to launch vehicles equipped with these cells in 2026 and ramp up commercial production in 2027. However, these figures remain development targets, and series readiness of the stated performance has yet to be confirmed. In parallel, China is moving to standardise solid-state battery terminology and classification, with a new standard (GB/T 48093.1-2026) published in late August and set to take effect in early 2028, aiming to clearly differentiate all-solid-state, semi-solid and hybrid cells.

On the sodium-ion front, Changan and CATL are already collaborating more concretely. Early in 2026, CATL tested its Naxtra cells in several passenger car projects, including under Changan’s Oshan brand. Shortly after, the Nevo A06 was announced as a series model equipped with a sodium-ion battery. The sedan uses a 45-kWh pack featuring CATL’s Naxtra cells and is expected to deliver a range exceeding 400 kilometres under China’s CLTC standard. CATL quotes an energy density of 175 Wh/kg for these cells, bringing sodium-ion technology increasingly close to the level of today’s LFP batteries, according to the manufacturer.

This newly announced deepening of the partnership thus combines short-term additional production capacity with the development of future cell chemistries. For Changan, it translates into closer access to battery technology for its own electric vehicle brands, reinforcing its position in an increasingly competitive EV market. The move also underscores the broader trend among Chinese automakers to secure battery supply through tight integration with leading cell manufacturers.