Changan’s Nevo A06, also identified in China as the Qiyuan A06, is an electric sedan developed with CATL and scheduled to launch in China by mid-2026. Its planned 45 kWh sodium-ion battery would make it an early mainstream passenger-car application of CATL’s Naxtra technology, which is being developed as an alternative to lithium-based batteries.
The project builds on the CATL and Changan battery joint venture established in 2023, which supplies batteries to Changan-affiliated brands including Avatr, Deepal and Nevo. Sodium is more abundant than lithium, which could help reduce exposure to lithium-price volatility and concentrated supply chains. Sodium-ion cells generally have lower energy density than leading nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries. That makes the chemistry especially relevant where cost ability to recover and cold-weather performance matter more than maximizing range or minimizing pack weight.
Performance in Harsh Conditions
CATL says Naxtra can operate from -40°C to 70°C and retain more than 90% of its capacity at -40°C. At -30°C, the company reports, it delivers nearly three times the discharge power of a comparable lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. These are manufacturer test claims, not a guarantee of the vehicle’s real-world winter range, charging speed or long-term performance.
CATL also reports a Naxtra cell energy density of up to 175 Wh/kg, a figure for the cell rather than the complete vehicle battery pack. The company has cited a service life exceeding 10,000 charge cycles in specified applications. That figure should not be read as the A06’s vehicle warranty or a universal lifespan for its automotive battery.
Battery safety is another focus of the technology’s development. CATL says Naxtra cells passed crushing, puncture and cutting tests without smoke, fire or explosion. The reported tests have been linked to China’s updated battery standard GB 38031-2025, which sets safety requirements for electric-vehicle batteries. Cell-level results alone do not describe the performance of every vehicle pack or accident scenario.
Range and Charging
The A06 is reported to target more than 400 kilometers on a charge under China’s CLTC test cycle. CLTC is a laboratory range standard, and its results are not directly equivalent to figures under Europe’s WLTP or the U.S. EPA test cycle. The sedan’s stated range is so a domestic benchmark, not a direct forecast of driving distance in other markets.
The battery is also reported to support charging from empty to 80% in about 15 minutes under optimal conditions. Charging performance depends on factors such as battery temperature, charger output and the vehicle’s charging system. With a 45 kWh pack, the A06 is positioned for urban and regional use rather than the long-range premium segment.
Industry Context
Sodium-ion batteries have already appeared in smaller Chinese electric vehicles, including the JAC Yiwei. The A06 would bring the chemistry to a mainstream sedan with CATL’s industrial backing. CATL’s broader program covers passenger vehicles and stationary energy storage, where lower reliance on lithium and cold-weather performance may prove valuable.
CATL presents sodium-ion technology as a complement to lithium-based batteries, not a replacement. Its trade-offs include potential ability to recover to raw-material price swings and better low-temperature performance, alongside lower energy density than top-tier NMC cells. Those characteristics could suit smaller or mid-range vehicles, commercial applications and stationary storage. The A06’s production and customer use will show how they translate into an automotive product.
