CATL ramps up sodium‑ion battery production while GM readies low‑cobalt LMR cells for EVs

China’s leading battery maker CATL announced that mass production of sodium‑ion cells will begin this year, targeting a 600 km driving range and backed by a record 60 GWh supply contract. The chemistry, which replaces lithium with abundant sodium, promises lower costs and reduced dependence on critical materials. At the same forum, CATL reaffirmed its long‑term focus on lithium‑air batteries, claiming a theoretical energy density of up to 12 000 Wh/kg, comparable to gasoline.

In the United States, General Motors is preparing to launch lithium‑manganese‑rich (LMR) batteries, a low‑cobalt alternative designed to cut EV costs. Production of prismatic LMR cells will start in 2026 at GM’s Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center, with market entry slated for 2028, initially on large SUVs and pickups. The same technology is also being adapted for NASA’s lunar rover projects.

Together, these developments illustrate a shift toward cheaper, higher‑energy EV batteries, with sodium‑ion offering an immediate commercial solution and lithium‑air representing a longer‑term breakthrough.