China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. (CATL) introduced its new Shenxing battery on April 21, 2025, in Shanghai. The battery is said to deliver 320 miles of range on a five-minute charge, surpassing rival BYD’s 250-mile benchmark and outpacing Tesla’s 200-mile, 15-minute Supercharger performance.
The announcement came during CATL’s annual Tech Day, where Chief Technology Officer Gao Huan declared the Shenxing battery a “new standard for electric vehicles,” promising greater convenience and freedom for EV drivers.
Launch Details
At Shanghai’s Tech Day event, CATL founder Robin Zeng took the stage to showcase Shenxing alongside a next‑generation sodium‑ion battery called Naxtra. Gao Huan told attendees, “Once again, we are pushing the boundaries of performance beyond limits,” and emphasized Shenxing’s role in “bringing users a more convenient and freer travel experience.”
Performance and Range
The Shenxing battery boasts a 500‑mile full capacity and achieves 80% charge in 15 minutes—even at temperatures as low as –10 °C—by leveraging advanced cell chemistry and cooling systems. With a 320‑mile range on a five‑minute top‑up, CATL positions Shenxing ahead of BYD’s similarly fast‑charging battery, which reaches 250 miles per charge in the same timeframe.
“Our goal is to make the CATL Shenxing supercharging battery the standard for electric vehicles,” Gao said, noting that Shenxing will power over 67 EV models across multiple brands this year.
Naxtra Sodium‑Ion Alternative
Alongside Shenxing, CATL unveiled Naxtra, a sodium-ion battery designed for cost efficiency and enhanced safety. Naxtra offers up to 310 miles of range on a single charge and is inherently less prone to thermal runaway than lithium-ion cells, making it ideal for extreme climates and budget-friendly EV segments. CATL expects Naxtra to enter mass production by the end of the year.
Global Market Position
In 2024, CATL maintained its position as the world’s largest EV battery supplier for the eighth consecutive year, capturing 38% of the global market compared to BYD’s 17.2%, according to SNE Research. The company’s batteries are installed in approximately one in three electric vehicles (EVs) worldwide, powering over 17 million cars. A planned secondary listing in Hong Kong aims to bolster CATL’s international expansion.
Tariff Impact and Contingency Plans
Despite recent US tariffs on Chinese autos and components, CATL’s American shipments account for a small share of its total sales. A company representative told the China Securities Journal that CATL has developed contingency strategies and is negotiating solutions with key clients to mitigate any trade‑policy disruptions.
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