Changan and CATL invest 5 billion yuan to add 25 GWh battery fab

Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. moved to expand joint manufacturing capacity to 75 gigawatt-hours on Nov. 9, 2026, advancing development of solid-state cells with 1,500-kilometer range.

The 25-gigawatt-hour factory addition requires 5 billion yuan ($750 million) in direct capital expenditure. The project expands the joint operating footprint from 50 gigawatt-hours to supply Changan's electric passenger car brands.

The partners established their manufacturing venture, CATL-Changan, in 2023 to secure dedicated battery supply. Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., the world's largest traction battery manufacturer, holds controlling technical operational oversight.

The production complex covers 700,000 square meters in an industrial zone straddling Chongqing and Sichuan Province. Ground operations begin in 2027, with the venture targeting full 25-gigawatt-hour nameplate output within three years.

Automakers across China face compressing vehicle margins and intensifying hardware competition. Vertical integration allows Changan Automobile to control battery cell procurement costs, which represent up to 40% of electric vehicle bill-of-materials expenses.

The facility will generate roughly 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) in annual gross output value once fully operational. The industrial expansion creates 2,500 assembly jobs and yields 300 million yuan in local corporate taxes.

Cell packs from the joint facility feed directly into Changan's electric passenger vehicle units. The recipient vehicle brands include Deepal Automobile Technology Co., premium marque Avatr Technology and the entry electric brand Nevo.

Alongside high-nickel liquid cells, the partners are shifting engineering resources toward solid-state chemistry. Solid-state architectures replace flammable liquid electrolytes with solid conductive materials, raising thermal resistance and vehicle crash safety margins.

Changan is pursuing proprietary cell engineering under its Golden Bell development program. The company targets an energy density of 400 watt-hours per kilogram, nearly doubling standard lithium-iron-phosphate battery packs.

That energy density supports a driving range exceeding 1,500 kilometers on a single charge under Chinese test cycles. The pack design integrates artificial intelligence remote monitoring intended to reduce battery fire risk.

The joint specifications target a service lifespan of 5,000 charge cycles, equivalent to 600,000 kilometers of road usage without performance degradation. The cells also feature 6C fast-charging systems, the automaker said.

A 6C charging rating enables a battery pack to replenish from 30% to 80% capacity in nine minutes. Rapid charging requires high electrical throughput without triggering lithium plating on the cell anode.

Changan incorporates cell-to-vehicle integration technology to raise assembly volumetric efficiency to 86%. Eliminating intermediate module housings frees vehicle cabin volume and reduces structural battery enclosure weight.

China's Standardization Administration published national benchmark GB/T 48093.1-2026 to classify solid-state batteries. The standard establishes strict technical criteria separating all-solid-state cells from semi-solid hybrid configurations, taking formal effect in 2028.

The regulatory benchmark forces Chinese manufacturers to substantiate laboratory claims before marketing solid-state vehicles. Most packs entering pilot production across 2025 and 2026 use semi-solid electrolytes containing trace liquid solvents.

Changan and CATL are also developing sodium-ion batteries to diversify raw material sourcing away from volatile lithium markets. Sodium-ion packs offer superior discharge stability during sub-zero winter temperatures.

CATL tested its Naxtra sodium-ion cells in Changan passenger prototypes earlier this year. The 45-kilowatt-hour sodium pack delivers 175 watt-hours per kilogram, yielding an estimated 400-kilometer operating range on Nevo sedans.

Changan disclosed in regulatory filings that prototype vehicle validation for solid-state cells begins in late 2026. The joint venture plans commercial pilot deployment across select production vehicle models during 2027.

Asian competitors are pursuing similar commercial timelines for solid-state automotive cells. Toyota Motor Corp. and Panasonic Holdings Corp. target 2027 production, while South Korea's Samsung SDI Co. operates an active pilot line.

Changan also plans to ship Deepal and Avatr electric vehicles to European dealerships. Securing captive cell production from CATL provides predictable battery volume as the carmaker scales vehicle assembly for overseas delivery.

Automotive engineers must resolve interfacial resistance between solid electrolytes and electrodes to sustain commercial manufacturing yields. High equipment capital costs also present headwinds to commercial solid-state lines.

Corporate filings do not state the planned ratio of solid-state cells to conventional packs within the 75-gigawatt-hour allocation. Changan has not published certified laboratory reports verifying the 1,500-kilometer driving range.

The joint venture reviews manufacturing installation milestones ahead of scheduled site commissioning in the second half of 2027. Full capacity ramp to 75 gigawatt-hours concludes before December 2029, the companies said.