Chinese automaker Changan has officially announced plans to deepen its partnership with battery giant CATL. The two firms have committed to expanding joint battery production capacity to 75 GWh and collaborating on solid-state batteries (SSBs) and sodium-ion cells.

Like its previous statements on its in-house SSBs, Changan made its announcement on an interactive platform owned by the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. The automaker also expressed commitment to prospective industries, including humanoid robots and China’s “low-altitude economy”.

More cells with CATL

Changan and CATL are not new partners in China’s automotive sector, having established a joint venture (JV), CATL-Changan (时代长安, Times Changan), earlier in 2023. The JV supplies cells to Changan’s in-house NEV brands, including Avatr, Deepal, and Nevo.

Libattery.net, a Chinese battery industry outlet, reports that CATL-Changan is on track to reach 50 GWh of battery production capacity, a plan Changan revealed at an investor relations event in May 2025.

The announcement means CATL-Changan will receive an additional 25 GWh of capacity and new production lines. The JV plans to establish a 700,000-square-meter facility and invest 5 billion yuan (~750 million USD) in the expansion.

According to Changan, the new facility will integrate the “latest generation of CATL battery tech” and supply cells to the automaker’s NEV brands. It’s planned to start operations in 2027 and meet the 25 GWh goal in three years. It will be situated in a high-tech zone between Chongqing City and Sichuan Province.

The automaker expects the expansion to bring in annual revenue of 10 billion yuan (~1.5 billion USD), create 2,500 jobs, and generate 300 million yuan (~45 million USD) in tax revenue for the local community.

Changan may also see this move as a way to cut costs. ZAKER News, a Chinese automotive outlet, reports that the Chongqing-based automaker is only earning 68 yuan (10 USD) per car, and is under heavy pressure to boost profits.

A JV with CATL would give it access to cheap in-house cells, and avoid high acquisition costs for battery packs,which is one of the priciest components in an NEV.

More on Changan’s SSBs

Changan has joined the race for SSBs in China, announcing its Golden Bell (Jinzhongzhao) cells in November 2023. The automaker says it’s aiming for an energy density of 400 Wh/kg and claims it will be 70% safer than rivals because it uses “AI remote diagnosis technology”.

It also claims the new Golden Bell cells will help EVs reach ranges over 1,500 km and says cell degradation won’t be noticeable for at least 600,000 km. Cell life will exceed 5,000 cycles, and Golden Bell packs will support 6C charging, enabling a 30-80% charge in 9 minutes.

The automaker has also reiterated its development schedule for the Golden Bell cells, aiming for vehicle road tests in 2026 and ramping up to commercial production in 2027.

Source: libattery.net

Source: CarNewsChina (View original)