CATL Commits ¥5 Billion to 40 GWh Sodium-Ion Expansion at Fuding — Sixth Phase

CATL announced on May 9, 2026 a sixth-phase expansion of its Fuding manufacturing base in Fujian province, investing 5 billion yuan (~$735 million USD) to add 40 GWh of dedicated sodium-ion battery production capacity. The expansion brings the total planned capacity at the Fuding site to 149 GWh, cementing it as the world's largest sodium-ion production hub. The move directly follows CATL's record 60 GWh three-year sodium-ion supply agreement with grid storage integrator HyperStrong signed on April 27, 2026 — the largest Na-ion order in history. The new production lines will focus on CATL's second-generation sodium-ion cells, targeting approximately 200 Wh/kg — around 25% higher than the first-generation cell — at a production cost within 5% of LFP at volume. The investment is a strong commercial signal: CATL has internally concluded that sodium-ion has crossed the economic viability threshold for stationary grid storage. The chemistry's inherent advantages — superior thermal stability in extreme temperatures, zero reliance on lithium, cobalt, or nickel, and compatibility with existing lithium-ion manufacturing equipment — make it well-suited for China's rapidly growing grid energy storage mandate market. With the HyperStrong deal and now confirmed manufacturing scale-up, CATL is positioning sodium-ion to displace a portion of LFP in the sub-100 km urban EV and grid storage segments over the next two to three years.