Chery Auto said it plans to install its solid-liquid hybrid batteries in vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2026 and begin vehicle validation of all-solid-state batteries in 2027, placing the automaker among Chinese carmakers targeting a 2027 commercialization window for the technology.
The update was announced by chairman Yin Tongyue on Thursday at the 2026 World Power Battery Conference in Yibin, Sichuan province. Chery said its Rhino Battery lineup includes three series for hybrid vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and solid-state applications. According to Yin, the company’s solid-state cells have reached an energy density of 400 Wh/kg.
The solid-liquid hybrid version of the Rhino Battery is intended as a transitional solution and is scheduled to enter vehicles in the final quarter of 2026. The all-solid-state version is expected to move into vehicle validation in 2027, in line with a roadmap Chery presented in March. At that time, the company said its Rhino S series included a 60-Ah solid-state cell with 400 Wh/kg energy density, using a sulfide-based solid electrolyte and a high-nickel ternary cathode. Chery also showed a polymer-based solid-state cell with an energy density of 600 Wh/kg, which it said could support a driving range of more than 1,500 kilometers.
Despite these advances, Chery noted that commercial deployment of solid-state batteries still faces hurdles related to cost, reliability, and manufacturing yield. Yin said the company will pursue multiple battery solutions in parallel, but none will be used in vehicles unless safety requirements are met. He said the Rhino Battery must pass tests involving high temperatures, extreme cold, crashes, underbody scraping, and water immersion.
Yin also said green electricity accounts for more than 52% of the power used at Chery’s manufacturing sites in China, and carbon-footprint accounting covers all current models sold by the company. He added that China’s automobile exports are expected to exceed 10 million vehicles in 2026, with new energy vehicles making up more than half. He said the overseas expansion of Chinese automakers should emphasize localized operations and industrial cooperation rather than short-term sales.
Source: CnEVPost
