Physix Frontier · News Briefing Card (TMTPost · Oct 8, 2026)

Automakers Rush to Self-Develop Batteries; MIIT Slams 'De-CATL' Push

KEY FACTS

In September, Xiaomi, Li Auto, Leapmotor, and XPeng successively announced plans to self-develop batteries or battery cells.
Xiaomi's Longjia battery is designed under Xiaomi's lead, with CALB and Sunwoda supplying the cells.
Li Auto plans to inject 2.65 billion yuan into Sunwoda Power, raising its stake to 11.17%.
On September 16, Leapmotor said its battery cells are now 100% self-developed, with its CTC technology iterated to 3.0.
On September 22, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology published an article criticizing the 'de-CATL' narrative, saying most self-development efforts are just packaging.

KEY DATA

47.031 billion yuanCATL net profit in H1

21.048 billion yuanCombined net profit of 15 mainstream automakers

2.65 billion yuanLi Auto's investment in Sunwoda Power

37.1%Share of consumers who might abandon purchase due to no CATL battery

PHYSIX OBSERVATION

Automakers' self-developed batteries are meant to seize the power to define the product, but most only do pack integration while cells still come from suppliers. MIIT's named criticism of marketing rhetoric shows the industry already has a concept bubble. For users, brand endorsement is shifting from CATL to the automakers themselves, making safety responsibility heavier, and real-world experience is the only touchstone.

Source: TMTPost report