CATL Declares Sodium-Ion Batteries Ready for Mass Production in 2026, Targeting 600 km EV Range

In a separate announcement tracked on April 29, CATL formally stated that its sodium-ion battery is entering mass production in 2026 and set a target of 600 km CLTC range for future Na-ion-powered EVs using its AB-pack architecture (combining sodium-ion and lithium-ion cells in a single pack). CATL's second-generation Na-ion cell achieves approximately 200 Wh/kg — up from ~160 Wh/kg in the first generation — and the company said manufacturing cost is now within 5% of comparable LFP cells at volume. CATL's Na-ion chemistry uses Prussian blue analogue (PBA) cathodes with hard carbon anodes, avoiding lithium, cobalt, and nickel entirely. The declaration comes on the heels of the 60 GWh HyperStrong grid storage deal and positions CATL as the first major battery maker to commit both to grid-scale and automotive Na-ion volumes simultaneously in the same year.