Changan and CATL plan to expand their joint battery production capacity to 75 GWh and collaborate on solid-state and sodium-ion cells, according to an announcement by the Chinese automaker. Their existing joint venture, CATL-Changan, supplies batteries to Changan’s new-energy brands, including Avatr, Deepal and Nevo.
The venture is expected to reach 50 GWh of capacity under an earlier plan. The newly announced expansion would add 25 GWh through a 700,000-square-meter facility, backed by an investment of 5 billion yuan (about US$750 million). The site is planned for a high-tech zone between Chongqing and Sichuan Province. Construction plans call for operations to begin in 2027, with the added capacity target to be reached within three years.
Changan projects annual revenue of 10 billion yuan (about US$1.5 billion) from the expansion, along with 2,500 jobs and 300 million yuan (about US$45 million) in tax revenue. The facility is intended to use CATL’s latest-generation battery technology and supply Changan’s new-energy vehicle brands.
Changan also restated its development timetable for its Golden Bell solid-state cells: vehicle road testing is targeted for 2026, followed by commercial production in 2027. The company has cited a target energy density of 400 Wh/kg and a potential EV range above 1,500 km. It also claims the cells can support more than 5,000 cycles and 6C charging, including a 30-to-80% charge in nine minutes.