Changan Launches 2026 Global Testing Season with SDA Intelligence Update and Sodium-Ion Battery Strategy

Yakeshi, China, February 5, 2026 – Changan Automobile held a release event themed "Changan SDA Intelligence Update & Global Launch of Sodium-Ion Battery Strategy" in Yakeshi, Inner Mongolia. During the event, Changan formally unveiled its global sodium-ion battery strategy and announced the commencement of its 2026 "Global Testing Season."

Industry-First: The "Sodium-Lithium Dual-Star" Era

Changan is accelerating the advancement of sodium-ion battery technology as part of its global battery strategy. Tan Benhong, Chief Brand Officer of China Changan Automobile Group, noted that Changan will continue to roll out new sodium-ion battery–equipped vehicles across multiple brands in the near future.

"From extreme conditions to everyday driving — Every pursuit of limits at Changan ultimately serves to protect each of our users' everyday journeys." stated Mr. Tan.

Vehicles equipped with sodium-ion power batteries are undergoing systematic validation under extreme conditions, with testing designed to verify both performance boundaries and intrinsic safety.

- Low-Temperature Superiority: Under extreme cold conditions, sodium-ion battery systems demonstrated stable discharge capability, significantly enhancing both battery safety and performance in ultra-low-temperature environments, with validation continuing beyond minus 40 degrees Celsius.

- Safety Benchmarking: To verify intrinsic safety characteristics, Changan, in collaboration with CATL, conducted a series of extreme abuse tests exceeding national standards. These included multi axis crushing, drill penetration, and complete sawing—with no smoke, fire, or explosion—demonstrating strong inherent stability.

SDA Intelligence: Bridging Extreme Trials and Daily Reliability

The launch showcased SDA Intelligence, which moves beyond passive safety into proactive, AI-driven vehicle stabilization. During the live "Extreme Cold" testing in Yakeshi, the Changan cars demonstrated real-world resilience. Vehicles from AVATR and Changan brands—including the CS Series, CHANGAN DEEPAL, and CHANGAN NEVO—were subjected to a range of extreme real-world scenarios under severe low-temperature conditions.

The Yakeshi trials also showcased the next evolution of SDA Intelligence, Changan's proactive safety framework. Unlike traditional lab simulations, these tests focused on evaluating intelligent driving and chassis control in unpredictable, low-friction natural environments.

The AVATR 12 mastered an ice-surface emergency lane-change following a tire blowout, with the distributed electric drive system maintaining a perfectly composed trajectory. CHANGAN NEVO Q05 successfully identified obstacles on low-friction ice during an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) challenge, achieving a controlled emergency halt.

Systematic Validation for Reliability

User-facing safety at Changan is built on a validation-first approach, in which all critical testing and verification are completed before vehicles reach customers. Behind this approach lies a robust verification system and a globally advanced cluster of laboratories, forming the foundation for Changan's ability to deliver comprehensive, all-scenario safety.

For real-world validation of mechanical hardware, Changan has built the Western Automotive Proving Ground, covering an area of about 2.33 square kilometers with cumulative investment exceeding 3 billion Chinese Yuan (approximately USD 431 million). The proving ground features 14 dedicated test roads and more than 70 types of special road surfaces, with annual test mileage surpassing 20 million kilometers—equivalent to circling the Earth approximately 500 times.

In software and code-based simulation validation, Changan operates China's only National Key Laboratory for Intelligent Vehicle Safety Technology—the globally CHANGAN SDA Lab. The lab covers more than 400,000 virtual simulation scenarios with daily intelligent driving simulation mileage exceeding 3.3 million kilometers.

Together, these rigorous validation systems and advanced laboratory capabilities form the technological foundation for the inherent safety of Changan's SDA Intelligence. They ensure that every Changan vehicle is equipped from the outset with reliable, built-in safety assurance that users can depend on from day one.

The Global Testing Journey Continues

Yakeshi is only the starting point. The 2026 Global Testing Season will include Southeast Asia for high-humidity durability and the European Alps for high-altitude chassis tuning. In Eurasia, Changan will conduct winter testing centered on confidence in ice and snow, with AVATR 12 as the test vehicle. In Latin America, Changan will carry out a Mexico cross-country drive from Cancun to Merida, focusing on long-distance reliability.

Together, these region-specific test programs form an integrated global validation cycle—ensuring that technologies proven under various conditions translate into reliable, everyday performance for users worldwide.