China’s automotive industry is rapidly advancing toward solid-state battery commercialization, with major automakers and suppliers setting aggressive timelines for vehicle demonstrations by 2027. This push is driven by national standards development, policy support, and the need for next-generation battery technology to maintain a competitive edge in the global EV market.
The Race to Solid-State: Key Players and Timelines
Geely, Chery, BYD, and Sunwoda are among the leading companies disclosing their strategies. Geely plans prototype vehicle launches by 2026, followed by small-scale industrialization with 1,000 demonstration vehicles by 2027, and mass production for high-end models by 2030. Their approach involves polymer, sulfide, and halide composite solutions, with a target energy density exceeding 500Wh/kg at a cost of $0.09/Wh.
Chery aims for 0.5GWh pilot production and sample completion in 2026, with official vehicle demonstrations in 2027. FAW Group’s Hongqi has already produced a solid-state prototype, achieving breakthroughs in sulfide electrolytes and thermal stability. BYD and Sunwoda both anticipate small-batch production by 2027, building on existing semi-solid-state capabilities.
National Standards and Policy Support
The first part of China’s national standard for automotive solid-state batteries is set to be released in July 2026, clarifying terminology for liquid, semi-solid, and fully solid-state batteries. This standardization is crucial for industry development, ensuring compatibility and safety. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has emphasized accelerating breakthroughs in core technologies like solid-state batteries as part of its broader push for supply chain autonomy.
Technical Challenges and Strategic Risks
Despite rapid progress, significant hurdles remain. Academician Ouyang Minggao of the Chinese Academy of Sciences highlights the need for improvements in all-climate fast charging, safety, and efficiency. Key scientific challenges include material instability and microscopic interface failures, while engineering issues involve electrolyte control and slurry sedimentation.
Industry analysts note that the path forward involves scaling semi-solid-state production before moving to fully solid-state, but risks persist. These include technological uncertainties, raw material fluctuations, and potential patent barriers. Different approaches carry varying levels of risk, requiring targeted mitigation strategies.
In conclusion, China’s automotive industry is aggressively pursuing solid-state battery technology, with clear timelines and strong policy support. While technical and strategic challenges remain, the momentum behind this effort suggests that solid-state batteries will play a major role in the next generation of electric vehicles.
