From：Internet Info Agency 2026-09-12 13:26:00
Xiaomi Auto recently announced strategic cooperation with CALB and Sunwoda, expanding its battery suppliers from CATL and FinDreams to four companies. On the same day, Li Auto stated it plans to inject RMB 2.65 billion into Sunwoda EV, acquiring an 11.17% stake upon completion of the transaction and becoming its second-largest shareholder. According to the latest MIIT announcement, the 2026 Li Auto i6 will also be equipped with CALB batteries. Data from the China Automotive Battery Industry Innovation Alliance shows that in the first seven months of 2026, CATL accounted for 45.37% of domestic power battery installations, while CALB and Sunwoda held shares of 6.32% and 2.89%, respectively. In this collaboration, Xiaomi Auto is involved in multiple stages including cell design, battery pack development, selection of electrochemical systems, structural safety optimization of cells, and adjustments to manufacturing processes. Huang Zhenyu, Vice President of Xiaomi Auto, said: “We are determined to participate in and invest across the entire chain.” Xiaomi Auto has already deployed quality teams at CALB’s and Sunwoda’s production sites, managing six key modules—projects, processes, equipment, operations, process quality, and sub-suppliers—and extending its control chain upstream to raw material suppliers. Li Auto emphasizes independent R&D combined with outsourced production by battery manufacturers. Li Xinyang, head of Li Auto's second product line, recently posted on social media: “Given Li Auto’s current annual battery installation volume worth tens of billions of yuan, selecting two high-quality partners for contract manufacturing of our self-developed cells is essential for ensuring safe and stable large-scale mass production.” Liu Liguo, Senior Vice President of Li Auto, previously stated in an interview that regardless of whether batteries come from CATL, Sunwoda, or are self-developed by Li Auto, Li Auto remains the primary party responsible to end users. Automakers such as Geely, Changan, Leapmotor, and XPeng have included second-tier suppliers like CALB, Sunwoda, EVE Energy, SVOLT, and Gotion High-Tech in their supply chains. Harmony Intelligent Mobility announced partnerships with CALB and other companies in May 2026. NIO and Tesla had previously begun developing their own power batteries, while BMW and battery makers like EVE Energy jointly develop cylindrical cells. In 2023, multiple media outlets reported that CATL launched a "lithium mine rebate" program for strategic OEM clients, under which part of the power batteries were settled based on a lithium carbonate price of RMB 200,000 per ton. Participating automakers were required to commit approximately 80% of their battery procurement volume to CATL over a three-year agreement period. According to Mysteel data, the price of battery-grade lithium carbonate reached RMB 116,500 per ton on December 30, 2025, roughly doubling from the low point at the end of June. An insider from a second-tier supplier noted that second-tier battery prices are about 5% lower than CATL’s; assuming a 100 kWh battery costs RMB 80,000, the 5% difference translates to RMB 4,000 per vehicle, or RMB 40 million for 10,000 vehicles. At the end of 2025, a supply-demand gap emerged in the power battery market. He Xiaopeng, Chairman and CEO of XPeng Group, stated he had visited multiple battery manufacturers to address supply issues. The Li Auto i6, launched in September 2025, used CATL batteries but faced production and delivery delays due to tight supply, forcing many customers to wait around 18 weeks. In January 2026, Li Auto announced a compensation plan for delayed deliveries, offering customers the option to switch to Sunwoda-powered versions and providing extended battery warranties. Sunwoda reported revenue of RMB 15.529 billion in the first half of 2026, with a net loss of RMB 324 million. It completed two rounds of financing in May and July totaling RMB 2.485 billion. In its announcement, Sunwoda stated the capital injection would strengthen its subsidiary’s financial position, reduce its debt-to-asset ratio, and ease debt burdens. At the end of 2025, a battery subsidiary of Geely filed a claim against Sunwoda, alleging quality issues with delivered cells; the parties later reached a settlement, with Sunwoda bearing compensation responsibility. In July 2026, some Aion-operated ride-hailing vehicles from GAC Aion experienced bent or swollen cells, with the implicated cells supplied by CALB. CATL’s R&D investment reached RMB 22.1 billion in 2025. In the first half of 2026, its attributable net profit amounted to RMB 43.284 billion, up 41.98% year-on-year. Geely Auto, Leapmotor, NIO, and Xiaomi Auto are among CATL’s customers. Li Auto’s MEGA and i9 models, scheduled for launch in the second half of 2026, will feature CATL batteries in their initial batches.
