According to SMM flash news on August 7 and reports from CBEA (China Battery Enterprise Association), Kaiwo New Energy Automobile Group and Jiangsu Chuanyi Sodium Technology Co., Ltd. Have formally signed a strategic cooperation agreement on the R&D and industrialization of sodium-ion batteries for Skyworth new energy forklifts. The two parties will integrate core resources to carry out joint R&D, production and global market promotion of sodium-ion batteries for Skyworth new energy forklifts, exploring sodium-ion applications in the industrial vehicle segment. The reports did not disclose quantitative details such as capacity, order value or delivery schedule.
Kaiwo Group is a new energy commercial vehicle player under the Skyworth umbrella, and Chuanyi Sodium is the sodium-ion business entity of listed company Chuanyi Technology (002866.SZ). Sodium-ion batteries feature wide operating temperature, high rate capability and long cycle life, which fit forklift scenarios characterized by low-speed heavy-load operation, frequent charging and cold-environment work. With electrification advancing in warehousing and logistics, forklifts are seen as one of the commercial scenarios sodium-ion can explore beyond energy storage and two-wheelers. Earlier, China Natrium (Zhongke Haina) delivered a heavy-load mining truck in cooperation with Tongli Heavy Industry, showing that construction machinery electrification is becoming an expansion direction for sodium-ion applications.
However, a strategic cooperation agreement does not equal orders or mass-production delivery; the reports disclosed no quantitative metrics, and specific product qualification, vehicle validation and mass-production timelines still await further disclosure.