U.S. automaker General Motors (GM) has decided to commercialize sodium-ion batteries. According to battery industry sources on June 16, GM held its “GM Empower” event on June 9 local time and announced an equity investment in U.S. sodium-ion battery startup Peak Energy, as well as plans for joint development.

On June 9 local time, General Motors and US grid energy storage company Peak Energy announced that they would jointly develop and deploy next-generation sodium-ion battery cells purpose-built for grid energy storage. Under the agreement, General Motors will be responsible for sodium-ion cell R&D at its battery lab in Michigan and retain exclusive manufacturing rights for the cells; Peak Energy will integrate these cells into its proprietary energy storage systems.

On June 10, news emerged that General Motors has reached a strategic cooperation agreement with US energy storage company Peak Energy to jointly develop sodium-ion battery technology for grid-side energy storage applications. The two parties will combine Peak's passive cooling energy storage technology with General Motors' battery cell research and development expertise, aiming to create the world's most cost-effective and reliable energy storage battery. Under the cooperation, General Motors will use its battery laboratory in Michigan for dedicated research and development of sodium-ion battery cells, while Peak Energy will integrate these sodium-ion cells into its proprietary energy storage systems.

After both sodium-ion battery cathodes and hard carbon anodes recorded significant increases YoY and MoM in May, the midstream and downstream segments of the industry chain—electrolytes and battery cells—also delivered impressive results, yet structural issues lurk beneath the growth.

In May, key materials for sodium-ion batteries sustained their strong momentum, with both cathode and hard carbon anode recording sharp YoY and MoM growth. Top-tier players’ order books were full and capacity utilization rates approached their limits. On the supply side, the pattern of rising volumes and stable prices was pronounced, yet pressure to pass on rising raw material costs was also building.

Wu Kai, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and chief scientist of CATL, said at the 2026 Equipment Power Forum that the company will achieve mass production of a series of sodium-ion battery products this year. Compared with lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries have abundant raw material resources and lower costs. Looking ahead, lithium-air batteries will be CATL's future direction. Wu Kai explained that lithium-air batteries use lithium as the negative electrode and oxygen from the air as the positive electrode reactant, offering ultra-high theoretical energy density and representing the next global battleground for next-generation batteries.

Driven by the global energy structure transformation and the "dual carbon" goals, battery technology is evolving from a traditional power storage medium into a core engine reshaping transportation, consumer electronics, and even the energy internet. From fundamental breakthroughs in materials science to the industrialisation of cutting-edge technologies such as solid-state and sodium-ion batteries, the battery industry is in a period of technological explosion with intense competition. This conference brings together the world's top scholars, industry chain leaders, and capital forces, aiming to break down barriers between industry, academia, research, and application. We will delve into key topics including high energy density, ultimate safety, ultra-fast charging technology, and recycling, jointly charting a new blueprint for green, efficient, and sustainable energy. Nayuan New Materials Technology (Wuxi) Co., Ltd. will attend this grand event to discuss industry development trends with industry peers and jointly drive battery technology to new heights. form to sign up immediately, witness and participate in this significant and far-reaching industry event, and create a brilliant new chapter together! Nayuan New Materials Technology (Wuxi) Co., Ltd. was established in March 2022, headquartered in Xinwu District, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. It is a national-level high-tech enterprise specialising in the R&D, production, and sales of cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries. Core Products and Technological Advantages The company's core product is the modified polyanion sodium iron sulphate (NFS) cathode material system (main material + dedicated additive), making it currently the only enterprise in China capable of providing NFS core "hard" additives at scale. Nayuan New Materials pioneered the "scaffold-building" additive technology, successfully overcoming three major industry-wide challenges of NFS materials — low compaction density, cell swelling and gassing, and rapid degradation during high-temperature cycling. Meanwhile, the Nayuan NFS system material achieves an electrode compaction density of 2.7 g/cm³, combined with a high average voltage of 3.7 V, as well as good moisture resistance, enabling broad compatibility with existing LFP and ternary lithium battery cell production lines for mass production. Based on the same platform technology, the next-generation anode-free sodium-ion battery can be developed with an energy density of 220 Wh/kg, and the anode-free all-solid-state sodium-ion battery can achieve an energy density of 320 Wh/kg, surpassing mainstream LFP levels while reducing material costs by 70%–80% compared to LFP, featuring a 3.7 V high-voltage platform and water-soluble easy-to-recycle characteristics. Team and R&D The company was founded by a doctoral team with extensive German industrial and research backgrounds. Founder and Chairman Dr. Liu Zhongqing holds a doctoral degree from Germany. He conducted postdoctoral research at the Jülich Research Centre (in the team of Chinese Academy of Engineering member Martin Winter), and subsequently worked in product development at SCHOTT Group in Germany and energy research at the University of Oxford, combining academic depth with industrial experience. Over 40% of the company's employees are R&D personnel. The company has established an R&D centre and an engineering technology centre at its Wuxi headquarters, as well as an R&D centre and a lab-scale/pre-pilot line in Suzhou. It has assembled more than 30 high-end sci-tech talents, including PhDs and master's degree holders, filed 25 invention patents (9 granted), and participated in formulating 3 industry standards for sodium-ion batteries. Capacity Layout and Industrialisation Nayuan New Materials has completed a leapfrog development of NFS materials from R&D to mass production: the 5 kt NFS mass production line in Jiangxi has achieved full capacity, while the 10 kt-level production line in Lu'an, Anhui is being accelerated. The company has sent samples to over 100 clients for testing and secured kt-level orders. Its products precisely cover scenarios including light-duty power (two-wheelers/three-wheelers), start-stop power supply, and UPS, while proactively expanding into high-end applications such as aircraft, robotics, energy storage, and AIDC backup power. Honours and Recognition In 2024, the company was recognised as a National High-tech Enterprise. At the 2nd China Sodium-ion Battery Conference, it won two awards (Technology Innovation Breakthrough Enterprise and Young Talent Award). Dr. Liu Zhongqing was honoured with the 20th Jiangsu May Fourth Youth Medal in 2026. Product application scenarios encompass light-duty power batteries, start-stop batteries, household ESS, and distributed ESS, meeting users' core demands for safety, long lifespan, and low cost. Long press 2026 SMM Battery Technology Conference

On May 21, the Nanping Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment issued a notice accepting the application for the environmental impact report assessment of the high-performance sodium-ion battery cathode material and new battery system integration project by Fujian Nate Energy Technology Co., Ltd. The total investment for this project is 150 million yuan, with a construction period of 24 months, scheduled from April 2025 to March 2027. The project plans to build a production line with an annual capacity of 10,000 tons of high-performance sodium-ion battery cathode materials, as well as a production line with an annual capacity of 1GWh for new battery system integration manufacturing, along with supporting battery PACK assembly operations.

SMM reported that during the public notice period from April 30 to May 7, Sail Limited Liability Company released a sourcing plan (GX-20260430461), intending to procure a batch of sodium-ion battery modules and casings through sole-source procurement, designating Guangdong Highstar Sodium Star Technology Co., Ltd. as the supplier. The order was intended for R&D and exhibition participation in a sodium-ion battery project, with delivery required by May 30. Highstar Sodium Star is PRET's core sodium-ion battery platform, focusing on the polyanion (NFPP) route. Its products feature wide temperature range, high safety, and long cycle life advantages, and have achieved volume supply in energy storage, backup power supply, and low-speed vehicle applications. This supplier designation marked another milestone for the company in automotive start-stop power supply and OEM supporting applications. The commercialization of sodium-ion batteries in China is rapidly expanding from energy storage to automotive scenarios.

According to SMM data, compared with the rapid growth of cathode and anode materials, the electrolyte and battery cell markets maintained high YoY growth but were affected in the short term by factors such as cost control, capacity alignment, and the pace of end-use demand release, presenting an operational landscape of "stability with adjustments."