Shanghai, Jan 26, 2026, 03:02 CST — Premarket
- CATL Class A shares finished at 347 yuan, marking a 0.35% gain.
- A Davos whitepaper on the circular economy and new remarks on battery chemistry have regained attention.
- Investors are now focused on product ramp details and the upcoming earnings report for clues on the next move.
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd’s (CATL) Class A shares ended the day at 347 yuan in Shenzhen, marking a modest 0.35% increase from the previous close. During the session, the stock fluctuated between 343.25 yuan and 350.00 yuan. 1
Over the weekend, investors got a fresh angle: recycling. CATL teamed up with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to drop a Davos whitepaper focused on creating a “circular” EV battery value chain — aiming to keep batteries and critical minerals in continuous reuse and recycling. CATL’s vice-chairman and board secretary, Jiang Li, called the effort “a major milestone.” Wen-Yu Weng from the foundation said a circular battery economy is “no longer optional” as EV adoption surges. CATL also highlighted its network of more than 1,000 passenger-vehicle and 300 commercial-vehicle battery swap stations, boasting lithium recovery rates over 96%. 2
Chinese financial media on Sunday cited CATL’s chief technology officer Gao Huan unveiling a “super-hybrid” cell chemistry that combines ternary lithium with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) materials in one system. Gao highlighted the key benefit as higher energy density while “controlling cost.” He also pointed to April as the target for scaling up to mass production. Ai Xinping, a professor at Wuhan University, described the two chemistries as “a scenario-based choice,” rather than an “either-or.” 3
The chemistry mix is crucial, caught in a familiar trade-off. LFP batteries cost less and hold up longer, but they deliver less energy per volume compared to nickel-heavy options. Ternary cells typically offer greater range, though they come with a steeper price tag.
CATL’s strategy is simple: deliver performance near ternary batteries but without the steep price tag. If successful, it might reshape battery choices for the next generation of vehicles, particularly commercial models where downtime and charging availability heavily impact costs.
Recycling might not grab headlines, yet it’s shifting the bottom line. Battery manufacturers have long worked to reduce their reliance on volatile mined resources, all while bracing for stricter regulations on collection and disposal.
Competition remains intense. Rivals like BYD and EVE Energy have aggressively advanced in LFP and fast-charge upgrades, while smaller firms attempt to gain ground by cutting prices.
The downside is also well-known. New chemistry timelines can slip, and what looks like “mass production” on paper still needs to clear automaker validation, pass safety tests, and rely on a stable supply chain before it translates into steady orders.
In the upcoming session, traders will be eyeing whether CATL’s shares respond to the weekend headlines or just follow the wider China EV and battery sector. For any lasting move, investors will probably need more than product news—they’ll want to see evidence of adoption and healthy margins.
Investors are now eyeing the company’s upcoming earnings report on March 21. They’ll be looking for specifics on demand, pricing trends, and the pace at which new products are scaling up. 4
