LG Energy Solution is moving forward with plans to build a pilot production line for sodium-ion batteries at its factory in Nanjing, eastern China, as it evaluates the feasibility of mass production, South Korean media outlet ETNews reported on Tuesday.
According to the report, the company will carry out research and development for next-generation batteries at its technology research institute in Daejeon before producing an initial prototype, known as Sample A, at its main “mother plant” in Ochang, North Chungcheong Province. Subsequent samples — including Sample B, described as a finished product, and Sample C, a version designed for mass production — are expected to be manufactured at the Nanjing facility.
ETNews said LG Energy Solution is considering localised production in China because of the country’s established sodium-ion battery supply chain, particularly for cathode materials, and its leading position in the development of the technology. The company is expected to complete construction of the pilot line and begin sample production within the year, a step that could accelerate commercialisation.
An LG Energy Solution spokesperson confirmed the company is evaluating options but said no final decision has been made. “We are reviewing various options for building a sodium-ion battery pilot line,” the representative said. “Nothing has been finalised yet.”
Sodium-ion batteries gained prominence in China after CATL unveiled its first-generation sodium-ion battery in July 2021, at a time when surging lithium prices driven by electric vehicle demand made alternative chemistries more attractive. Interest later cooled as lithium prices fell.
Momentum returned recently after CATL said at a supplier conference that sodium-ion batteries could see large-scale adoption in battery swapping systems, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles and energy storage by 2026. In April 2025, CATL launched its sodium-ion battery brand Naxtra, saying the cells could achieve energy density of up to 175 Wh/kg, comparable to lithium iron phosphate batteries.
Several Chinese startups, including Zoolnasm and Hina Battery, are also developing sodium-ion battery production capacity, underscoring renewed industry attention on the technology as lithium prices fluctuate.