Chinese automaker Changan and battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) plan to increase their joint battery production capacity from 50 GWh to 75 GWh. The proposed expansion will add 25 GWh of capacity through a new manufacturing facility. The companies also plan to strengthen their cooperation in next-generation battery technologies, including solid-state and sodium-ion batteries.
According to Changan’s announcement on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange platform, the proposed facility will cover approximately 700,000 square metres in a high-tech zone between Chongqing and Sichuan Province in China. The project is estimated to require an investment of around 5 billion yuan. Operations are expected to begin in 2027, and the additional 25 GWh of capacity is planned to be achieved within three years.
The CATL-Changan joint venture was established in 2023 and supplies batteries to Changan Group’s electric vehicle brands, including Avatr, Deepal and Nevo. The planned facility is expected to produce battery cells incorporating CATL’s latest battery technologies. The expansion is intended to strengthen the companies’ existing battery manufacturing partnership and support Changan’s electric vehicle business.
Beyond increasing manufacturing capacity, Changan and CATL intend to deepen their cooperation in solid-state battery development. Changan is developing solid-state batteries under its Golden Bell battery programme. The company has announced development targets of up to 400 Wh/kg energy density, a driving range exceeding 1,500 kilometres, more than 5,000 charging cycles and 6C charging capability. Changan aims to introduce vehicles using this technology in 2026 and increase commercial production in 2027. These figures are development targets rather than confirmation of commercially achieved performance.
The companies are also advancing their cooperation on sodium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. CATL’s Naxtra sodium-ion cells have been tested in passenger vehicle projects, including models under Changan’s Oshan brand. The Nevo A06 has also been announced as a production vehicle featuring sodium-ion battery technology. According to the reported specifications, it uses a 45 kWh battery and is expected to deliver more than 400 kilometres of range under China’s CLTC test cycle. CATL reports an energy density of 175 Wh/kg for the cells.
The planned expansion to 75 GWh represents a further step in the Changan-CATL partnership, combining increased battery manufacturing capacity with continued development of different battery chemistries. The new facility is expected to strengthen battery supply for Changan’s electric vehicle brands, while the companies’ work on solid-state and sodium-ion technologies supports their broader battery development plans. The project’s implementation and capacity ramp-up will determine how the additional production capacity contributes to future battery requirements.
