Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has announced plans to roll out sodium-ion batteries for widespread use by the end of 2026. This development comes as the company continues to dominate the global electric vehicle (EV) battery market, holding a market share of 38.1% as of October 2025, a slight increase from 37.6% the previous year. Competitor BYD ranks second with 16.9% of the market, followed by LG Energy Solution at 9.3%, CALB at 4.7%, and Gotion at 4.1%, according to data from SNE Research.
During a supplier conference on December 28, 2025, CATL confirmed its commitment to deploying sodium-ion batteries across various applications, including battery swapping systems, passenger vehicles, commercial transport, and energy storage solutions. The new battery technology, branded as Naxtra, is designed to provide significant advantages over traditional lithium-ion batteries, particularly in terms of cost and performance in cold weather conditions.
The sodium-ion battery cells developed by CATL have an energy density of 175 Wh/kg, which puts them on par with some of the most efficient lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. The company asserts that these batteries will enhance driving range and charging speed, especially in colder climates. CATL’s commercial sodium-ion batteries are engineered to function effectively within a temperature range of -40°C to 70°C.
In a significant breakthrough reported in September 2025, CATL announced that its sodium-ion batteries would offer a pure electric driving range exceeding 500 km (310 mi) and are ready for large-scale deployment. Additionally, Naxtra batteries became the first to meet China’s stringent new EV battery safety standards, known as GB 38031-2025, which will take effect on July 1, 2026.
According to CATL, the introduction of sodium-ion technology is expected to reduce reliance on lithium resources, thereby enhancing the foundation for new energy technologies. The company aims to shift energy utilization from a model of “single resource dependence” to one of “energy freedom.”
As CATL continues to lead the charge in battery innovation, the upcoming deployment of sodium-ion technology marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of electric vehicles, promising to make the technology more accessible and safer for consumers worldwide.