Key Findings
Changan and CATL are deepening their partnership by expanding joint battery production capacity to 75 GWh. This expansion involves a 5 billion yuan (~750 million USD) investment to establish a 700,000-square-meter facility located in a high-tech zone between Chongqing City and Sichuan Province. The new site is scheduled to begin operations in 2027, aiming to add 25 GWh of capacity within three years to complement the existing 50 GWh capacity of the CATL-Changan joint venture.
Technical Details
The collaboration focuses on solid-state batteries (SSBs) and sodium-ion cells. Changan is specifically developing “Golden Bell” (Jinzhongzhao) cells with the following specifications:
- Energy Density: 400 Wh/kg.
- Range and Life: Enables EV ranges over 1,500 km, with cell degradation remaining unnoticeable for at least 600,000 km and a life exceeding 5,000 cycles.
- Charging: Supports 6C charging, allowing a 30-80% charge in 9 minutes.
- Safety: Claimed to be 70% safer than rivals via “AI remote diagnosis technology.”
The roadmap for Golden Bell cells targets vehicle road tests in 2026 and commercial production in 2027.
Background & Context
The CATL-Changan joint venture, established in 2023, currently supplies cells to Changan’s NEV brands, including Avatr, Deepal, and Nevo. Beyond batteries, Changan has expressed commitment to humanoid robots and China’s “low-altitude economy.”
Significance & Outlook
This strategic move aims to reduce production costs for Changan, which reports earning only 68 yuan (10 USD) per car. By securing cheap in-house cells through the JV, Changan intends to mitigate the high acquisition costs of battery packs. The expansion is expected to generate annual revenue of 10 billion yuan (~1.5 billion USD), create 2,500 jobs, and contribute 300 million yuan (~45 million USD) in local tax revenue.
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