SHANGHAI, Feb 8, 2026, 05:08 GMT+8 — Market closed
- CATL’s Class A shares wrapped up the session in Shenzhen at 369.11 yuan, picking up 1.7%.
- CATL’s sodium-ion battery plans with Changan have traders watching closely, as the partners target a 2026 vehicle debut.
- Attention shifts to Monday’s reopening, with CATL’s upcoming earnings report also on the radar.
CATL Class A shares (300750.SZ) finished Friday at 369.11 yuan, gaining 1.7%. The stock moved between 358.01 and 372.88 yuan during the day.
CATL shares jumped, bringing renewed attention to its sodium-ion battery efforts—a strategy aiming to broaden its chemistry lineup as automakers look for cheaper options and reliable performance in colder climates.
This is relevant now as China’s EV supply chain hunts for ways around lithium-heavy batteries—without compromising on safety. Any serious roadmap to mass production could quickly shift how investors value battery stocks.
CATL is rolling out sodium-ion batteries in passenger vehicles linked to Changan, targeting a market debut in 2026, according to S&P Global AutoTechInsight.
CATL says its Naxtra sodium-ion cells can hit an energy density of up to 175 watt-hours per kilogram—a metric for how much juice a battery packs for its weight. The company claims a 45-kWh battery delivers up to 400 km of all-electric driving, and estimates that could reach 500–600 km as the supply chain scales up. CTO Gao Huan described the launch as “the beginning of a dual-chemistry era.” In cold conditions, CATL says the sodium-ion packs beat lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, with almost three times the discharge power at minus 30 degrees Celsius and over 90% capacity retention at minus 40, according to its own data. Plans are also underway for over 3,000 “Choco-Swap” battery swap stations across 140 cities in China by 2026, where drivers can exchange depleted batteries for charged ones. CnEVPost
Roughly 393,700 lots traded hands Friday, the stock starting out at 359.32 yuan. CATL’s market cap hovered around 1.68 trillion yuan, with the trailing P/E sitting near 26, according to the dataset.
CATL’s rally has picked up steam—shares have climbed roughly 5.5% in the last week alone, and over the past six months, they’ve surged close to 40%, MarketScreener data shows.
Sodium-ion isn’t pitched to investors as a one-for-one swap with lithium packs. Think of it as a second track: raw materials can cost less, and performance in harsh winter stands out. That opens up possibilities for more budget-focused models to enter the market.
Competitive heat is plain to see. China’s EV makers keep slashing prices, while battery suppliers now have to break out concrete figures on kilowatt-hour costs and warranty risk.
The tricky stretch lies between winter trials and consistently churning out product at scale—that’s typically where things can get shaky. Yields come up short, or demand drops, then automakers start pushing back on orders. Suddenly, the “second chemistry” pitch risks showing up on the expense side instead of generating much-needed sales.
Shenzhen resumes trading on Monday, with attention fixed on whether buyers stick around or step back quickly. The big question: how much of the sodium-ion push reflects immediate orders, and how much signals a slower, longer expansion?
There’s a clearer trigger ahead. According to Investing.com, CATL is set to deliver its next earnings on March 21. That release should clarify margins, spending plans, and, crucially, whether sodium-ion appears prominently in 2026 guidance.
