The Companies Building Sodium-Ion Batteries

CATL, Natron Energy, Altris, Tiamat, Faradion/Reliance, HiNa Battery — profiles and progress

Author: Arlo | Date: 2026-08-16

The Sodium-Ion Landscape

The sodium-ion battery industry has moved from academic labs to commercial production in just five years. A handful of companies are now manufacturing cells at scale, with several more in pilot production. Here's a detailed look at the key players.

CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology)

Headquarters: Ningde, China | Listed: Shenzhen (300750.SZ)

CATL is the world's largest battery manufacturer, with ~37% global market share. The company announced its sodium-ion battery brand, Naxtra, in 2021 and began mass production in 2022. CATL's sodium-ion cells use a layered oxide cathode and hard carbon anode, delivering ~160 Wh/kg with fast charging (80% in 15 minutes).

CATL is deploying sodium-ion in budget EVs (JAC Yiwei, Chery) and grid storage projects across China. The company has also developed the AB battery system — a hybrid pack mixing sodium-ion and lithium-ion cells. With its massive manufacturing base (over 500 GWh of total capacity), CATL is the company most likely to drive sodium-ion to cost parity and beyond.

Natron Energy

Headquarters: Santa Clara, USA | Listed: Nasdaq (STC)

Natron Energy is the leading US sodium-ion company. Unlike CATL, Natron focuses entirely on stationary and industrial applications — grid storage, data centre UPS, telecom tower backup. Their cells use Prussian blue analogue cathodes, which deliver exceptional power density (fast charge/discharge) and extremely long cycle life (50,000+ cycles in some configurations).

Natron went public on Nasdaq via SPAC in 2024. The company has begun shipping commercially from its Michigan manufacturing facility and has announced partnerships with major industrial customers. Natron's Prussian blue chemistry is ideally suited for applications that need high power, frequent cycling and absolute safety.

Faradion (Reliance Industries)

Headquarters: Sheffield, UK | Parent: Reliance Industries (India)

Faradion was a UK sodium-ion pioneer, founded in 2011 by researchers who saw the potential of sodium chemistry early. The company developed a layered oxide cathode chemistry with competitive energy density (~150 Wh/kg) and demonstrated sodium-ion cells in electric scooters and commercial vehicles.

In 2022, Reliance Industries — India's largest company by market cap — acquired Faradion for £100 million. Reliance is building a sodium-ion gigafactory in Jamnagar, India, as part of its broader new-energy strategy. The company plans to use sodium-ion batteries for stationary storage and electric two/three-wheelers in the Indian market, where cost sensitivity is extreme.

HiNa Battery

Headquarters: Liyang, China | Listed: Private

HiNa Battery is a Chinese sodium-ion specialist spun out of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The company has been producing sodium-ion cells since 2022 and supplies batteries for the Chery QQ Ice EV and various grid storage projects. HiNa's O3-type layered oxide cathode delivers ~145 Wh/kg, with a roadmap to 180+ Wh/kg.

HiNa has partnered with JAC, Chery and Yutong (buses) for vehicle applications. The company operates a 1 GWh production line and is expanding to 10 GWh. While not as large as CATL, HiNa is a focused sodium-ion pure play with deep technical expertise.

Altris

Headquarters: Uppsala, Sweden | Listed: Private

Altris is a Swedish startup focused on cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries. Their proprietary material, Fennac, is a Prussian white cathode that delivers high energy density and is manufactured from low-cost, abundant raw materials. Altris doesn't make cells — it supplies cathode material to cell manufacturers.

The company has raised significant venture funding and partners with European battery makers. Altris represents the European push for battery supply chain independence — providing cathode material that doesn't depend on lithium, cobalt or nickel.

Tiamat

Headquarters: Amiens, France | Listed: Private

Tiamat is a French sodium-ion company spun out of the RS2E research network (Réseau sur le Stockage Électrochimique de l'Énergie). Backed by Stellantis and Saft, Tiamat is developing sodium-ion cells for power tools and high-power applications. Their cells use a polyanion cathode chemistry that delivers exceptional power density — ideal for power tools that need rapid bursts of energy.

Tiamat operates a pilot production line in Amiens and plans to scale to gigawatt-hour production. The company's focus on power tools is strategically smart — it's a market where sodium-ion's power density advantage and cost savings matter, and where energy density is less critical.

Other Notable Players

The Competitive Landscape

The sodium-ion industry is still early. CATL dominates by virtue of scale, but the technology is diverse — layered oxides, Prussian blue analogues and polyanion chemistries each have different strengths. Natron owns the US stationary market; Faradion/Reliance targets India; HiNa and CATL lead in China; Altris and Tiamat represent Europe's bid for relevance.

Learn More

Nothing on this site is financial advice. All content is for educational purposes only. Always do your own research and consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions. Back to all guides