宁德时代，“寒地反击”

Core Viewpoint - The explosive growth of the new energy commercial vehicle market has not allowed CATL (300750.SZ) to remain complacent, as its market share in the commercial vehicle battery segment has declined significantly, prompting a strategic shift towards sodium batteries as a new growth point [1][5]. Group 1: Market Position and Challenges - CATL holds a dominant position in the domestic battery market with a total installation volume of 333.57 GWh, accounting for 43.42% of the market share [4]. - In the commercial vehicle sector, CATL's installation volume was 79.74 GWh, representing a 49.17% market share, but this is a decrease of 11.90 percentage points year-on-year [1][5]. - The company faces increasing competition from second-tier battery manufacturers, necessitating a rapid response to maintain its leading position [1][5]. Group 2: Sodium Battery Development - CATL has introduced the Tianxing II commercial vehicle battery solution, featuring the industry's first mass-produced sodium battery, which performs well in extreme cold conditions, retaining over 92% usable power at -20°C [1][2]. - The sodium battery is expected to address the performance decline of lithium batteries in cold regions, making it a key technology for capturing incremental market opportunities [1][2]. - The company plans to expand sodium battery applications beyond commercial vehicles to passenger cars and even construction machinery as production capacity increases [2][3]. Group 3: Technical Advantages and Future Outlook - Sodium batteries offer significant advantages in terms of wide temperature range performance and higher safety, which can reduce system integration and management costs [3]. - The resource accessibility of sodium compared to lithium is expected to enhance energy independence, with a goal to achieve cost competitiveness with lithium batteries within two to three years [3][6]. - CATL aims to improve the energy density of sodium batteries to match that of current lithium iron phosphate batteries within three years, enhancing their market viability [6]. Group 4: Product Strategy and Innovations - The Tianxing II series includes tailored solutions for light commercial vehicles, such as a long-range version with a 253 kWh battery capable of 800 km range and a low-temperature version that can operate at -30°C [2][7]. - The company has developed a hybrid system combining ternary and lithium iron phosphate technologies, allowing for continuous energy density growth while controlling costs [6][7]. - This innovative approach enables CATL to meet high-end market demands without relying solely on expensive ternary materials, thus balancing performance and cost [7].